PROPER TIME FOR COLLECTING CERTAIN ROOTS. 141 
The poppy capsule appears to contain both albumen and 
starch, and when the former is solidified, and the latter con- 
verted into a jelly by the application of boiling water, the 
medicinal principles of the poppies are extracted with more 
difficulty. Syrup of poppies, as usually prepared, is very 
liable to fermentation; this I attribute chiefly to the pre- 
sence of the starch, which is favorable to this kind of de- 
composition, and which, by increasing the density of the 
fluid to a consistence approaching to that of a jelly, ob- 
structs the separation of the faeces by decantation or fil- 
tration, 
London Pharm. Transactions. 
ART. XXXIII.— ON THE PROPER TIME FOR COLLECTING 
CERTAIN ROOTS.* 
BY DR. BUCHNER. 
The importance of determining which is the best period 
of the year for collecting certain medical plants has been 
pointed out by Buchner. Neutwich employed the follow- 
ing method for the purpose of ascertaining this point. The 
plan, although short and easy of execution, does not give 
any idea of the peculiar constituents of the samples: 
He cleansed the fresh roots from adhering earth by means 
of a brush; a certain quantity was then dried in the air, and 
its loss of weight remarked ; it was then boiled several 
times with water, the extracts evaporated down to oz., cla- 
* Pharm. Central Blatt., 1842, p. 688; as given in the London and 
Edin. Monthly Journal of Medical Science, Jan. 11, 1843. 
VOL. IX. — NO. II. 13 
