AMERICAN NARCOTIC AND OTHER EXTRACTS. 209 
but if such is the case it would be better to achieve the 
evaporation in an open water bath vessel with constant stir- 
ring, than to have the extracts as we have described them. 
Much has been written on the effects of climate in modi- 
fying the medicinal power of plants, by changing their 
chemical composition and augmenting or diminishing their 
activity. It has been repeatedly averred that the European 
narcotics most in use, when grown in this country, are de- 
cidedly less potent, than in their native soil. Enough is al- 
ready known in this department of botanical science to give 
some credit to the opinion, but we should greatly prefer to 
have the point fairly tested in relation to Conium, Hyos- 
cyamus and Belladonna. The first two of these we are in- 
formed have been acclimated in some localities, in the 
Northern States. We have seen Belladonna, this season, 
growing with rank luxuriance in the garden of Professor 
Wood of this city. To arrive at a good result it would be 
necessary to have the extracts prepared with care, and 
tested therapeutically by a physician interested in the 
subject at one of our hospitals, where the English extracts 
may be in use. It would be very gratifying to get favorable 
results, and we should be most happy to make our pages 
the vehicle for communicating them, should any of our 
medical and pharmaceutical friends be disposed to assume 
the task. 
In conclusion we will remark, that the extracts of Messrs. 
Tilden and Co. are enclosed in fluted glass bottles, the corks 
faced with tin foil and securely covered with a metallic 
cap. If these gentlemen will bring to bear on their manu- 
facturing operations all the light of pharmaceutical science, 
and adhere to a conscientious construction of the National 
Pharmacopoeia, their products will prove to be a boon to 
the medical community, and we doubt not that eventually 
they will receive a substantial reward, both in increased 
confidence and patronage. W. P., Jr. 
18 
