AMERICAN  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 
481 
Query  11th. — Is  Nicotina  the  active  principle  in  carefully  dried  green 
tobacco  leaves?  Do  the  seeds  of  tobacco  contain  the  same  alkaloid? 
and  if  so,  does  the  proportion  of  nicotina  found  in  commercial  (fer- 
mented) tobacco  justify  the  belief  of  Liebig  (Agricultural  Chemistry, 
Amer.  ed.,  184),  that  nicotina  is  an  artificial  product  ? 
Answered  by  Professor  Mayer,  whose  paper  was  read  by  Mr. 
Bedford,  of  New  York. 
Query  12th. — What  is  the  best  arrangement  for  spreading  plasters  of 
uniform  sizes,  rapidly  and  well ;  and  what  is  the  best  form  and  weight  of 
spatula  for  spreading  plasters  extemporaneously  ?  together  with  observa- 
tions on  the  dispensing  of  this  form  of  preparations. 
Answered  by  Mr.  W.  C.  Bakes,  of  Philadelphia,  who  exhibited 
through  Mr.  Parrish;  proper  machines  for  the  purpose. 
Query  13th. — Bitter  Wine  of  Iron.  What  is  the  best  formula  for  this 
preparation,  in  which  citrate  or  tartrate  of  iron  is  presented  along  with 
one  or  more  bitter  tonics  and  aromatics,  combining  efficiency  as  a  chaly- 
beate tonic  with  elegance  and  agreeability  in  appearance  and  taste ;  with 
comments  on  similar  preparations  now  in  use. 
Answered  by  Mr.  J.  T.  Shinn,  of  Philadelphia,  in  a  paper 
presented  and  read  by  Mr.  Gr.  F.  H.  Markoe,  who  also  presented 
some  specimens  of  the  Bitter  Wine  of  Iron. 
A  discussion  arose  on  the  merits  and  characteristics  of  this 
article,  in  which  Messrs.  Markoe,  Maisch,  Procter  and  Parrish 
participated ;  Mr.  Parrish  maintaining  that  Bitter  Wine  of  Iron 
is  and  should  be  a  weak  preparation  of  Iron. 
Query  14. — Glycerin — its  mission  (so  to  speak)  in  Pharmacy  as  a 
remedy,  as  an  adjuvant,  and  as  a  solvent. 
Answered  by  Mr.  W.  J.  M.  Gordon,  who  showed  samples  of 
various  preparations  made  with  glycerin,  instead  of  sugar,  where 
sugar  is  required.  This  elicited  considerable  discussion,  in  which 
surprise  was  exhibited  at  the  low  price  at  which  glycerin  is 
produced,  and  the  quality  and  mode  of  manufacture  was  alluded 
to. 
Query  15th. — It  has  been  stated  that  the  poisonous  properties  of  Rhus 
toxicodendron  reside  in  a  volatile  alkaloid.  Is  this  true?  Is  this  alka- 
loid dissipated  when  the  leaves  are  dried  ?  Can  it  be  isolated  in  a  state 
fit  for  medical  use,  or  can  the  properties  of  the  leaves  be  preserved  in 
some  form  as  a  pharmaceutical  preparation  ? 
Mr.  Maisch,  by  whom  this  was  accepted,  asked  to  have  it 
continued,  which  was  granted. 
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