588 
Abstract  of  Papers. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t      Dec,  1877. 
Anacyclus  officinarum,  Hayne,  when  applied  to  the  skin  produce  red- 
ness and  blisters  ;  their  virtues  seem  to  depend  partly  upon  volatile  oil, 
but  mainly  upon  acrid  resin. — Editor  Am.  Jour.  Phar. 
Lobelia  Inflata.  By  Chas.  S.  Plumb,  M.D. — The  writer  pointed 
out  an  inaccuracy  of  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory  in  regard  to  the  statement 
that  lobelia  root  was  used  in  medicine.  The  root,  according  to  Mr. 
Plumb,  is  almost  inert,  and  is  not  found  in  the  market.  The  general 
characteristics  of  the  leaves,  as  given  by  the  authorities,  is  correct, 
except  the  conclusion  that  lobelia  is  poisonous.  The  writer  maintained 
the  view  that  relaxation  was  the  principal  effect,  whilst  several  author- 
ities had  used  the  term  prostration  to  designate  the  symptoms  follow- 
ing the  use  of  lobelia  herb,  which  is  wrong,  because  no  stupor  follows, 
no  convulsions  or  permanent  debility,  in  fact,  no  symptoms  of  a  nar- 
cotic poison  are  observed  as  we  see  in  those  drugs  properly  called 
narcotics. 
It  was  also  stated,  in  contradiction  to  the  Dispensatory,  that  the 
drug  had  no  cathartic  properties  whatever,  but  it  produced  speedy  and 
severe  vomiting,  attended  with  continued  nausea,  copious  sweating  and 
great  general  relaxation,  as  described  in  the  Dispensatory. 
The  writer  denounced  as  erroneous  the  statement  that  lobelia,  in 
large  or  too  frequently  repeated  doses,  produced  extreme  prostration 
and  death,  preceded  by  convulsions.  In  substantiation  of  this  latter 
statement,  he  remarked  that  he  had  taken  very  large  doses,  and  had 
seen  prescribed  by  several  physicians  repeatedly,  doses  of  one-half  to 
two  or  three  drachms  without  any  injurious  effect  following,  even  when 
the  drug  had  been  retained  in  the  stomach. 
The  detailed  experiments  with  this  drug  led  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  common  reputation  of  lobelia  was  far  from  the  truth,  and  that  its 
poisonous  properties  had  come  by  association  with  nicotina  without 
careful  analysis  of  its  medicinal  properties. 
Adulteration  of  Oil  Origanum.  By  J.  W.  Ballard,  Daven- 
port, Iowa. — The  writer  is  aware  that  pure  oil  of  origanum  is  some- 
times hard  to  find,  but  the  specimen  that  came  under  his  observation  a 
few  weeks  ago  was  so  peculiar,  at  least  to  him,  that  he  forwards  a 
description. 
The  oil  was  bought  for  pure,  labeled  pure,  and  the  price  liberal. 
It  was  very  light-colored  and  had  an  agreeable,  though  not  a  strong 
/ 
