890 
Current  Literature. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec,  1918. 
Aconitum  Chasmanthum  Stapf.  Substituted  for  Aconite 
U.  S.  P. — Examination  of  importations  of  "  aconite  "  has  disclosed 
that  in  one  instance  the  root  of  Aconitum  chasmanthum  Stapf.  has 
been  substituted  for  the  true  material.  The  root  of  Aconitum 
chasmanthum  is  generally  smaller  than  that  of  Aconitum  napellus, 
about  2  centimeters  long  and  about  0.75  centimeter  in  diameter;  it 
is  less  wrinkled  and  the  rootlet  stubs  are  usually  clustered  at  the 
basal  end.  Its  fracture  is  lighter  in  color  and  its  texture  less  tough 
and  resinous.  The  department  will  recommend  the  detention  of  any 
shipment  of  aconite  root  found  to  consist  in  whole  or  in  part  of  the 
roots  of  Aconitum  chasmanthum.  In  releasing  such  goods,  the 
department  will  take  such  precautions  or  impose  such  conditions 
as  seem  necessary  to  prevent  their  sale  as  aconite  U.  S.  P. — Service 
and  Regulatory  Announcement  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 
No.  23. 
MEDICAL,  PHARMACEUTICAL  AND  DISPENSING 
NOTES. 
Cutaneous  Irritation  by  Mustard  Oil  as  Influenced  by 
Various  Solvents. — Sollman  says  that  olive  oil  and  other  good 
solvents  for  mustard  oil  hinder  its  penetration  into  the  skin.  The 
greatest  irritation  is  obtained  by  watery  suspensions,  for  instance, 
in  mucilage.  Olive  oil  and  turpentine  produce  practically  no  hy- 
peremia ;  ether  and  absolute  alcohol  produce  very  little  hyperemia ; 
95  per  cent,  alcohol  causes  a  distinct  hyperemia,  whereas  50  per 
cent,  alcohol  causes  marked  and  lasting  hyperemia;  mucilage  of 
acacia  and  simple  syrup  cause  the  most  intense  and  persistent  hy- 
peremia. (T.  Sollman,  Journal  of  Pharmacology  and  Experimental 
Therapeutics,  through  the  Journal  of  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation.) 
Pharmacologic  Study  of  Benzyl  Alcohol.— Experimental 
data  and  clinical  cases"  show  that  benzyl  alcohol  is  an  efficient  local 
anesthetic  when  administered  in  aqueous  solution.  This  alcohol  is 
soluble  up  to  4  per  cent,  in  water  or  in  physiologic  saline  solution. 
These  concentrations  appear  to  be  entirely  efficient  for  practical  pur- 
poses. The  interesting  features  in  connection  with  this  drug  which 
should  be  especially  emphasized  are  in  the  first  place  its  low  toxicity 
