282 
Advances  in  Pharmacy. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1 9 1  /  • 
divided  into  two  classes.  One  of  those  examined  acts  principally  on 
the  circulation,  and  the  other  on  the  respiration.  Those  containing 
aconitine  belong  to  the  first  class,  and  those  which  contain  pseudo- 
aconitine  belong  in  the  other  class.  Aconitum  Napellus  is  the  most 
efficient  of  the  aconitine  class.  To  the  other  class  belong  Aconitum 
heterophylloides  and  Aconitum  magarum;  these  can  be  conveniently 
referred  to  as  the  pseudo-aconitine  group.  (Jour.  Pharmacology, 
Chem.  Abstr.,  1917,  II,  70,  T.  R.  Fraser). 
Elimination  of  Strychnine  by  the  Kidneys. — According  to 
the  researches  of  the  investigators  named  below  this  alkaloid  makes 
its  appearance  in  small  quantities  in  the  urine  within  a  few  minutes 
of  administration,  and  the  amount  excreted  is  very  much  increased 
by  diuresis.  Injected  intravenously  large  doses  of  the  alkaloid  do 
not  increase  the  amount  of  excretion.  It  was  found  that  in  the  case 
of  dogs,  renal  excretion  is  not  sufficient  to  save  life,  no  matter  how 
active  it  may  be.  It  is  therefore  logical  to  assume  that  diuresis  helps 
very  little  to  the  successful  treatment  of  strychnine  poisoning.  It 
was  also  discovered  that  the  amount  of  strychnine  eliminated  by  the 
kidneys  by  dogs  agrees  generally  with  the  amount  eliminated  in  the 
same  wray  by  man  (R.  A.  Hatcher  and  M.  J.  Smith,  Jour.  Pharma- 
cology, Chem.  Abstr.,  1917,  II,  69). 
Banana  Stalks  as  a  Source  of  Potash. — The  continued  high 
prices  for  potash  and  the  constant  demand  for  it,  for  use  as  a  ferti- 
lizer, has  caused  attention  to  be  directed  to  many  vegetable  sources 
of  this  alkali.  These  sources  have  hitherto  been  disregarded  as  a 
means  of  potash  production,  but  since  the  Stassfurt  mines  are  no 
longer  accessible,  the  world  has  been  sad  put  for  this  very  necessary 
adjunct  to  agriculture,  and  industry  in  general.  Among  the  many 
sources  mentioned  banana  stalks  seem  to  show  much  promise.  A 
recent  investigation  shows  that  banana  stalks  contain  as  much  potash 
as,  or  nearly  as  much  as,  dried  kelp  as  a  filler  for  commercial  ferti- 
lizers. The  stalks,  when  charred  and  lixiviated,  will  produce  27 
pounds  from  one  ton  of  stalks,  containing  at  least  90  per  cent,  of 
K0CO0.  Further  investigation  may  reveal  more  possibilities  (/. 
/72c?.  Eng.  Chem.,  153,  1917). 
Destruction  of  Fly  Larv,e  in  Manure. — No  doubt  the  logical 
way  to  get  rid  of  the  ubiquitous  fly  is  to  destroy  him  before  he 
reaches  his  full  development.  Therefore  the  results  of  the  U.  S. 
Department  of  Agriculture's  experiments  as  to  the  best  way  in 
which  to  destroy  the  larvae,  should  be  of  interest.    After  three 
