AloctoberS!m'}    American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  491 
The  rhizomes  and  stipes  of  these  two  plants  are  also  very  distinct 
in  character.  In  Aspidium  niarginale  the  stipes  are  especially  char- 
acterized by  the  presence  of  chaff.  The  special  characters  of  the 
stipes  of  Osmunda  Claytoniana  are  the  large  central  fibrovascular 
bundle,  which  is  involute,  and  the  absence  of  internal  glandular 
hairs. 
A  Study  of  the  Alkaloids  Gelsemine  and  Gelseminine. 
By  L.  E.  Sayre. 
The  author  said :  "  The  results  of  this  study  have  emphasized  the 
fact  that  the  so-called  gelsemic  acid,  contrary  to  statements  of  early 
investigators,  is  only  scantily  precipitated  by  lead  acetate  and  sub- 
acetate.  This  sesculin-like  principle  is  so  persistent  that  the  residual 
solution,  after  lead  precipitation,  contains  a  measurable  quantity  of 
the  principle.  The  results  have,  in  addition,  shown  that  the  same 
results  as  Thompson  obtained  (by  the  use  of  lime  in  removing  the 
plant  acids)  cannot  be  obtained  by  the  use  of  lead.  That  is,  the 
gelsemine  chloride,  in  colorless  crystalline  form,  is  not  obtainable 
by  the  lead  process.  It  is  to  be  noted,  however,  that  the  fresh  drug 
was  employed  in  the  present  study.  I  hesitate  to  suggest  that  gel- 
semine, as  described  by  Thompson,  may  be  absent  in  the  fresh  root. 
It  will  require  further  study  to  remove  the  doubt  that  this  distinct 
principle  exists  only  in  the  dry  root.  The  existence  of  two  alka- 
loids in  gelsemium,  having  the  properties  described  by  Thompson 
and  others,  not  having  been  fully  accepted  by  some  authorities,  is 
worthy  of  further  study." 
Assay  of  Preparations  of  Gelsemium. 
By  L.  E.  Sayre. 
The  author  applies  the  general  method  of  assay  recommended  by 
Webster  (see  this  Journal,  1907,  pp.  301-307.) 
The  Estimation  of  Cantharidin  in  Cantharides  and 
Preparations. 
By  Frank  R.  Eldred  and  W.  C.  Bartholomew. 
The  method  given  is  as  follows:  Place  10  grammes  of  cantharides 
in  No.  60  powder,  in  a  small  percolator  provided  .with  a  stopcock;  add 
a  mixture  of  25  c.c.  of  chloroform  and  2  c.c.  of  glacial  acetic  acid  and 
allow  to  macerate  for  one  hour.    Then  drain  the  percolator,  pack 
