AlAugust'  1914™'}  Constituents  of  Androgr aphis  Paniculata.  349 
Conclusions  and  Suggestions. 
1.  Practically  all  of  the  scopolamine  hydrobromide  or  the  so- 
called  hyoscine  hydrobromide  consumed  in  the  United  States  is  at 
present  supplied  by  Germany,  where  the  laevo-compound  only  is 
recognized  as  official  under  the  title  "  Skopolaminhydrobromid."  In 
view  of  this  fact,  and  as  present  usage,  not  only  in  Germany  but  in 
other  continental  countries  and  in  England,  indicates  a  preference 
for  the  latter  term,  there  can  be  no  important  reason  for  the  same 
compound  appearing  under  two  different  titles  in  the  United  States 
Pharmacopoeia.  It  is  therefore  suggested  that  the  term  "  Scopo- 
lamine hydrobromide  "  be  made  the  official  English  title  in  the  next 
revised  edition  of  the  pharmacopoeia,  with  "  Hyoscine  hydrobro- 
mide "  as  a  possible  synonym. 
2.  As  there  is  still  some  doubt  concerning  the  exact  melting- 
point  of  the  chloraurate  of  either  the  1-  or  i-scopolamine,  this  con- 
stant should  not  be  prescribed  as  a  test  by  the  next  pharmacopoeia. 
3.  It  is  now  known  that  scopolamine  or  the  so-called  hyoscine 
may  exist  in  either  the  laevo-  or  inactive  forms,  and  that  the  com- 
mercial hydrobromide  is  usually  the  lsevo-salt,  but  not  infrequently 
a  mixture  of  the  two  isomeric  forms.  It  is  also  known  that  the 
isomers  produce  different  physiological  effects,  the  laevo-  variety  pre- 
ferred by  medical  practitioners  because  of  its  particular  physiological 
action  and  on  account  of  its  constant  state  of  purity.  It  is  therefore 
suggested  that  the  revised  edition  of  the  United  States  Pharma- 
copoeia recognize  only  the  1-scopolamine  hydrobromide  as  official, 
and  that  a  definite  specific  rotatory  power  be  prescribed  for  it. 
CONSTITUENTS  OF  ANDROGR  A  PHIS  PANICULATA. 
By  KSHITIBHUSHAN  BHADURI,  M.Sc. 
Androgr  aphis  paniculata,  Nees  (Fam.  Acanthacecc) ,  is  a  common 
bitter  plant  growing  throughout  the  plains  of  India.  The  plant  is  an 
annual  one,  two  to  three  feet  long;  stem  quadrangular,  pointed, 
smooth;  leaves  opposite,  on  short  petioles,  lanceolate,  entire  upper 
surface  dark  green  and  shining,  under  surface  paler  and  finely 
granular;  they  vary  much  in  size,  but  the  larger  are  usually  three 
inches  in  length  and  one  inch  in  breadth ;  calyx  deeply  five-cleft, 
corolla  bilabiate,  tips  linear,  reflected,  upper  one  three-toothed,  lower 
