AMERICAN  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION.  495 
Richmond,  from  whom  no  report  having  been  received  it  was 
discontinued. 
8.  Prof.  Calvert,  of  Manchester,  England,  has  asserted  that  the  article 
known  as  "  American  lard,"  in  the  English  market,  is  sometimes  found 
adulterated  to  a  considerable  extent  with  the  pulp  of  potatoes,  or  other 
starchy  matter.  Query,  has  this  adulteration  been  noticed  in  the  com- 
merce of  this  country?  If  so,  how  is  it  is  most  easily  detected  by  chemical 
or  other  means  ? 
This  question  was  reported  on  by  Prof.  Grahame,  by  whom  it 
was  accepted,  and  the  report  referred  for  publication. 
9.  Arnica  flowers  are  largely  used  in  the  United  States.  Has  any  at- 
tempt been  made  to  cultivate  the  plant  in  New  York,  New  England,  or 
other  parts  of  this  country,  by  the  Shakers  or  others  ? 
W.  J.  M.  Gordon,  of  Cincinnati,  reported  on  this  subject  in 
the  negative,  and  his  report  was  referred  to  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 
10.  The  medicinal  power  of  Cimicifuga  is  generally  admitted,  its  use  is 
increasing,  it  belongs  to  a  natural  family,  (Ranunculaceae)  embracing 
many  active  plants  containing  alkaloids,  and  yet  the  attempts  hitherto 
made  have  not  educed  any  distinct  active  principle.  Query,  to  what  dis- 
tinct principle,  if  any,  is  the  medicinal  power  to  be  attributed  ? 
11.  It  has  become  proverbial  that  Digitalis  of  American  growth  has  not 
the  same  amount  of  sedative  power  as  the  European  leaf.  Query ,  does 
American  Digitalis  yield  a  less  proportion  of  digitalin  than  the  imported, 
and  is  such  digitalin  equally  active  with  that  from  the  foreign  plant. 
These  two  questions  were  accepted  by  E.  S.  Wayne,  of  Cin- 
cinnati, from  whom  no  response  has  been  received.  As  Mr. 
Wayne  had  taken  steps  to  produce  these  papers,  and  intended 
to  have  been  at  this  meeting,  these  queries  were  continued  over 
to  another  year  in  his  charge. 
12.  The  Elaterium  plant  grows  readily  in  Philadelphia.  Can  it  be 
availably  cultivated  with  a  view  to  the  extraction  of  its  peculiar  product ; 
and  does  the  Elaterium  it  yields  compare  favorably  with  the  English 
drug  ? 
Edward  Parrish  read  the  answer  to  this  query,  and  it  was  re- 
ferred to  the  Executive  Committee. 
13.  According  to  the  most  recent  researches  on  Ergot  by  Winckler,  that 
chemist  obtained  an  alkaloid  from  it,  which  he  believes  to  be  analogous,  if 
not  identical,  with  propylamin,  the  odorous  principle  of  herring  pickle.  It 
