154 
Gleanings  in  Materia  Mediea. 
A  m.  Jour.  Pharm. 
March,  1887. 
The  same  process  may  also  be  used  for  the  quantitative  determina- 
tion of  cinchonidine,  but  it  is  better  to  work  with  the  following 
quantities:  quinine  sulphate  5  gm.,  distilled  water  145  gm., potassium 
oxalate  125  gm.  and  distilled  water  5  gm.  The  cold  liquid  is  fil- 
tered, 100  ccm.  of  the  filtrate  mixed  with  10  drops  soda  solution  (sp. 
gr.  1*160),  the  mixture  Avarmed  moderately,  then  set  aside  for  twelve 
hours,  the  precipitate  collected  on  a  filter,  washed  with  little  water, 
dried  and  weighed.  To  this  is  added  0  040  gm.  (cinchonidine  soluble 
in  100  ccm.  of  liquid),  and  by  multiplying  this  sum  with  1'750 
(=oxl'167)  the  weight  of  cinchonidine  sulphate  contained  in  5  gm. 
of  quinine  salt  is  obtained.  The  results  are  approximately  correct 
provided  the  cinchonidine  sulphate  (anhydrous)  does  not  exceed  10 
per  cent.,  in  which  case  the  results  are  decidedly  too  low. — Archiv  d. 
Phar.,  Jan.,  1887,  p.  68. 
The  diuretic  effects  of  caffeine,  which  have  been  previously  observed 
by  Zwenger,  Gubler,  Shapter  and  others,  have  recently  again  been  the 
subject  of  investigation.  The  result  of  von  Schroeder's  experiments 
(Arch.  f.  Path.  u.  Pharmah.,  Oct.,  1886)  point  to  two  opposite  effects 
of  caffeine,  1,  in  stimulating  the  nervous  system,  similar  to  strych- 
nine, and  tending  to  decrease  the  flow  of  urine  through  the  contrac- 
tion of  the  renal  vessels  ;  and  2,  in  stimulating  the  kidney  itself  and 
thus  greatly  increasing  the  amount  of  urine.  That  the  diuretic  action 
varies  considerably  in  intensity,  was  observed  by  Bronne  (Dissertation, 
Strassburg,  1886).  He  administered  the  alkaloid  in  divided  doses 
every  two  hours,  0*5  to  1'5  gm.  beinj:  the  total  amount  given  in  the 
morning  only,  so  as  to  prevent  it  from  causing  sleeplessness;  and  if  its 
employment  must  be  prolonged,  he  advises  its  occasional  discontin- 
uance for  a  few  days,  when  the  remedy  will  act  as  promptly  as  before. 
Ewpatorium  Ayapana,  Ventenat,  is  at  present  met  with  in  European 
commerce  (Phar.  Zts.  Russl.,  1886,  p.  707).  The  drug  consists  of 
dried  leaves,  about  8  cm.  long  and  15  mm.  (f  inch)  broad,  brown, 
smooth,  oblong-lanceolate,  the  margin  somewhat  revolute.  Two 
prominent  lateral  veins  branch  off  from  the  midrib  near  the  base,  and 
extend  parallel  with  the  margin  to  the  apex.  The  odor  is  slight 
coumarin-like,  and  the  taste  mildly  astringent  and  aromatic.  The 
leaves  are  recommended  against  indigestion,  pectoral  complaints  and 
in  cholera,  and  were  used  for  similar  purposes  in  Europe  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century. 
The  shrub  is  indigenous  to  Brazil,  but  is  now  found  throughout 
