296 
Topical  Applications. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  19 17. 
root  divides,  connecting  with  and  forming  part  of  the  vascular  sys- 
tem of  the  rhizome. 
Fig.  5  shows  an  oblique  section  of  a  portion  of  helonias  rhizome, 
cutting  the  root-carrying  tubes  with  their  contents  at  right  angles. 
The  walls  of  the  root-carrying  tubes  consist  of  from  one  to  three 
layers  of  cells  which  are  uniformly  thickened.  The  epidermis  of 
the  contained  root  has  disappeared  and  the  cortical  parenchyma, 
somewhat  altered,  gradually  narrows  as  the  root  approaches  the 
pericycle. 
The  endodermal  layer  of  the  root,  enclosing  the  pentarch  radial 
mestome,  persists  practically  unchanged  until  it  reaches  the  pen- 
cycle.  Here  the  endodermal  layer  disappears,  while  just  inside  the 
pericycle  the  mestome  divides,  sending  out  branches  of  the  col- 
lateral type.  Helonias  is  thus  shown  to  possess  characteristics  that 
enable  its  identification  to  be  accurately  and  quickly  determined.  It 
should  be  added  as  diagnostic  aids  in  the  study  of  the  powder,  that 
helonias  rhizome  contains  much  starch  and  numerous  cells  filled 
with  bundles  of  raphides  of  calcium  oxalate.  The  endodermal  cells 
of  the  root  are  thickened  on  their  inner  walls,  have  a  narrow  lumen, 
and  very  numerous  simple  pores,  the  radial  walls  appearing  sinuate 
from  their  close  proximity.    Root  hairs  are  very  numerous. 
A  THESIS  ON  TOPICAL  APPLICATIONS,  THE  METHODS 
OF  PREPARATION  AND  MEANS  OF  DISPENSING, 
FOR  THE  TREATMENT  OF  DISEASES  OF 
THE  EYE. 
Submitted  by  C.  Elbert  Hoffman.  P.D.,  P. CP.,  1909,  for  the  Degree  of 
Master  in  Pharmacy,  Ph.M.,  in  the  Philadelphia  College 
.of  Pharmacy 
Realizing  that  the  products  of  some  of  the  pharmaceutical  meth- 
ods have  been  unsatisfactory  from  the  standpoint  of  the  practicing 
pharmacist  as  well  as  the  practicing  ophthalmologist,  the  author 
presents  this  thesis  with  the  knowledge  that  the  products  secured 
by  the  careful  following  of  its  formulae  are  not  only  highly  eligible 
but  present  the  compounds  or  mixtures  in  the  most  effective  form. 
While  the  work  on  glycerite  of  boroglycerin  is  entirely  orig- 
inal I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  Conrad  Berens  for  his  encouragement 
and  suggestions  in  my  investigation. 
