Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec,  19 18. 
Current  Literature. 
885 
THE  NEWLY  ELECTED  OFFICERS  OF  THE  AMERICAN 
PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 
The  tellers  have  announced  the  results  of  the  election  for  officers 
of  the  Association  that  has  been  held  by  mail.  Those  elected  to 
preside  over  the  destiny  of  the  Association  during  the  association 
year  1919-1920  are:  President,  Prof.  L.  E.  Sayre;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Prof.  Theodore  J.  Bradley;  Second  Vice-President,  Harry 
Whitehouse ;  Third  Vice-President,  Prof.  E.  Fullerton  Cook ;  Mem- 
bers of  the  Council  for  three  years,  Dr.  James  H.  Beal,  Prof.  Charles 
H.  La  Wall,  Samuel  L.  Hilton. 
CURRENT  LITERATURE. 
SCIENTIFIC  AND  TECHNICAL  ABSTRACTS. 
Adulterant  of  Stramonium  Leaves. — A  large  consignment  of 
stramonium  leaves  recently  sent  from  Spain  and  France  was  found 
on  examination  to  consist  almost  entirely  of  the  leaves  of  Xanthium 
macrocarpum  DC,  a  plant  widely  distributed,  especially  in  the  Medi- 
terranean region.  Although  the  spiny  fruiting  capitulum  somewhat 
resembles  the  fruit  of  stramonium,  the  leaves  are  easily  distinguished 
by  their  smaller  size,  yellowish-green  color,  and  harsh  hairs  occur- 
ing  on  the  lamina.  Under  the  microscope  three  forms  of  hairs  are 
to  be  seen,  two  protective  and  one  glandular.  Of  the  protective 
hairs  one  form  is  short  and  lignified,  the  other  longer ;  the  glandular 
hairs  are  characterized  by  the  rosettes  of  calcium  oxalate  in  some 
of  the  cells.  Rosettes  of  calcium  oxalate  are  also  to  be  found  in 
the  mesophyle,  but  they  are  much  smaller  and  less  numerous  than 
those  of  stramonium.  A  transverse  section  of  the  midrib  exhibits 
six  bundles,  whereas  in  stramonium  the  bundle  is  undivided.  The 
leaves  of  X.  Strumarium  L.,  have  also  been  found  in  stramonium 
leaves.  (Pharm.  Journ.,  1901,  p.  326.) — (P.  Guerin,  U  Union 
Pharm.    Through  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  and  Pharmacist.) 
Storax  Assay. — Van  Itallie  and  Lemkes  suggest  the  following 
method  for  determining  the  cinnamic  acid  in  storax :  Boil  1  Gm.  with 
20  Cc.  of  N/2  alcoholic  solution  of  potash  for  one  hour  under  a 
