94 
EDITORIAL. 
of  the  experiments  depended  on  the  accurate  isolation  of  these  active 
principles,  they  fail  to  convey  the  information  sought  by  the  author. 
The  conclusion  of  the  paper  consists  of  an  outline  of  a  plan  of  proximate 
analysis  followed  by  tabular  statements  of  the  quantitative  analysis  of 
twenty-six  drugs,  chiefly  of  our  native  plants,  which  must  have  involved 
a  large  amount  of  labor  to  the  chemist  who  executed  them  ;  unaccom- 
panied as  they  are  by  the  details  of  the  several  analyses,  and  with  a  de- 
scription of  the  active  principles,  it  is  difficult  to  form  a  correct  opinion 
of  their  merit  for  accuracy. 
We  give  a  transcript  of  the  composition  of  mandrake. 
Mandrake  root  (Podophyllum  peltatum.) 
Collected  in  April.         Collected  in  October. 
Organic  matter, 
90.857 
90.857 
Inorganic  matter, 
9.143 
9.143 
100.000 
100.000 
Gum  and  Albumen, 
8.857 
6.854 
Starch, 
6.057 
8.121 
Extractive  matter, 
7.571 
3.897 
Bitter  principle, 
11.828 
10.882 
Resin,  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether, 
2.857 
5.117 
Resin  soluble  in  alcohol,  £ 
2.400 
0.571 
insoluble  in  ether,  $ 
Soluble  salts, 
1.072 
2.490 
Insoluble  salts, 
8.070 
6.652 
Lignin,  &c, 
51.288 
55.416 
The  points  which  deserve  attention  in  this  analysis,  are — 1st,  the 
existence  of  a  large  amount  of  "  bitter  principle."  2d,  the  greater  de- 
velopment of  the  resin  soluble  in  ether  in  the  autumn,  and  the  diminution 
of  that  insoluble  in  ether  at  the  same  period.  This  will  account  for  some 
of  the  discrepancies  of  writers  on  this  subject.  What  the  bitter  princi- 
ple is  we  have  no  means  of  determining  from  the  analysis. 
The  Appendix  to  the  Proceedings  consists  of  correspondence  furnished 
by  the  U.  S.  Patent  Office,  in  relation  to  cinchona  bark,  and  some  indige- 
nous medical  productions  of  the  Indian  Territory,  followed  by  the  constitu- 
tion and  list  of  members. 
In  concluding  this  notice,  we  would  suggest  to  members  of  the  Associa^ 
tion,  in  order  to  assist  the  executive  committee  in  their  financial  matters, 
that  they  not  only  pay  up  all  their  dues,  but  that  such  as  feel  able  should 
buy  several  copies  of  the  Proceedings  and  dispose  of  them  to  pharmaceutists 
who  are  not  members,  and  thus  create  an  interest  in  the  Association  be- 
yond its  precincts.  The  price  of  the  work  is  only  $1.00  per  copy,  or  $1.25 
postage  paid.  Five  dollars  will  therefore  procure  four  copies  by  post,  or 
five  copies  by  a  private  medium. 
