342  Gleanings  in  Materia  Medica.       { Am/u°iyM?arm' 
was  next  treated  with  a  0.2  per  cent,  solution  of  caustic  soda,  the  fil- 
trate slightly  acidified  with  acetic  acid,  and  mixed  with  3  volumes  of 
95  per  cent,  alcohol ;  the  precipitate  was  dried  at  100°  C.,  weighed, 
incinerated,  and  after  deducting  the  ash,  gave  6.21  per  cent,  albuminous 
matter  present. 
The  residue  of  the  leaves  not  dissolved  by  caustic  soda  was  treated 
with  dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  the  filtrate  neutralized  with  ammonia, 
the  precipitate  dried,  and  incinerated  to  calcium  oxide,  and  calculated 
to  calcium  oxalate,  amounting  to  1.26  per  cent. 
The  residue  of  the  50  gm.  of  powder,  on  being  treated  with  distilled 
water  and  chlorine  gas,  lost  19.42  per  cent,  of  lignin  and  incrusting 
substances,  the  dried  residue  of  28.43  per  cent."  constituting  cellulose. 
A  qualitative  examination  was  made  of  the  ash  weighing  17.10  per 
cent,  of  the  powdered  leaves ;  it  contained  potassium,  calcium,  mag- 
nesium, iron  and  aluminium,  chlorides,  phosphates,  carbonates  and 
silicates. 
GLEANINGS  IN  MATERIA  MEDICA. 
By  the  Editor. 
Digitalin,  according  to  Ph.  Lafon,  {Archives  de  Phar.  1887,  p.  32} 
is  not  altered  by  diastase,  pepsin,  gastric  juice,  pancreatic  juice,  bile, 
yeast,  emulsin  or  in  contact  with  putrefying  substances,  and  therefore, 
cannot  be  altered  in  the  digestive  canal ;  but  after  it  has  entered  the  circu- 
lation it  appears  to  be  oxidized.  Alkalies  and  mineral  acids,  with  the 
exception  of  nitric  acid,  do  not  interfere  with  the  detection  of  digitalin ;. 
but  this  is  destroyed  by  nitric  acid. 
Cannabis  indica  has  been  experimented  with  by  Dr.  J.  Roux,  (Ar- 
chives d.  Phar.  1887  p.  1)  the  preparations  having  been  made  by  Du- 
quesnel.  The  drug  was  exhausted  with  alcohol,  and  the  alcoholic  ex- 
tract was  freed  from  matters  soluble  in  water  which  were  inert ;  the 
remaining  green  mass  was  then  treated  with  petroleum  benzin  and 
with  ether.  Of  the  three  extracts  thus  obtained,  that  made  with  ether 
produced  insignificant  results.  The  petroleum  extract  was  found  to  be 
excitant  and  convulsivant,  and  in  the  dose  of  a  gram  produced  coma 
and  in  11  or  12  hours  death  of  the  animal.  The  alcoholic  extract  has 
narcotic  properties,  but  its  action  is  uncertain,  if  small  doses  are 
given. 
Formation  of  solanine  in  potatoes. — Thus  far  this  alkaloid  has  been 
obtained  only  from  potatoes  while  unripe  or  during  the  time  of  sprout- 
