\m.  Jour.  Phaem  ) 
May.  1, 1874.  j 
Helenium  Autumnale. 
221 
only  sparingly  from  a  solution  in  one  fluidrachm,  and  that  in  short 
massive  crystals,  totally  unlike  the  delicate  fibres  and  needles  of 
genuine  quinia.  No.  4  crystallized  very  sparingly  from  three  flui- 
drachms.  No.  5  from  two  and  a  half,  after  the  excess  of  acid  had 
been  carefully  neutralized  with  dilute  water  of  ammonia. 
It  will  be  seen,  by  inspecting  the  table,  that  these  results  harmonize, 
except  in  the  case  of  No.  3,  with  those  obtained  by  actual  analysis. 
I  can  hardly  think  that  anything  likely  to  be  used  as  an  excipient 
can  interfere  with  the  success  of  this  test,  which  is  moreover  so  sim- 
ple that  it  can  be  applied  by  those  who  make  no  pretensions  to  skill 
in  chemical  manipulation.  The  test  may  be  applied  practically  thus  : 
Dissolve  a  two  grain  pill  in  a  fluidrachm  of  water,  by  boiling  in  a 
test  tube.  On  cooling,  the  fluid  should  set  into  a  dense  network 
of  fibrous  crystals.  Add  a  fluidrachm  of  water,  or  a  larger  quantity,  if 
the  first  crystallization  has  been  satisfactory,  and  heat  till  the  crys- 
tals redissolve.  In  this  way  proceed  until  crystals  form  in  the  solu- 
tion only  sparingly  after  cooling.  The  volume  of  fluid,  in  drachms, 
multiplied  by  100,  and  divided  by  six,  will  give  now,  approximately, 
the  percentage  amount  of  true  quinine  in  the  pill. 
The  annexed  table  exhibits  the  results  of  my  experiments,  and 
requires,  perhaps,  no  further  explanation  or  comment : 
Gross  weight  of 
2  gr.  pill. 
Alkaloids  solu- 
ble in  ether, 
from  five  2gr. 
pills. 
Sulphate  of 
quinia  from 
five  2gr.  pills. 
One  2gr.  pill 
crystallizes 
from  water. 
No.  1 
4-8  grs. 
7-15  grs. 
9-55 
grs. 
5.5  drachms. 
No.  2 
4-7  " 
7.1  " 
9-5 
u 
5-5  " 
No.  3 
3«8  " 
5-55  " 
7-4 
a 
1- 
No.  4 
3-7  " 
4-65  " 
6-2 
(6 
3- 
No.  5 
4-  " 
5.7  " 
4-3 
Ci 
2-5  " 
HELENIUM  AUTUMNALE. 
By  Francis  J.  Koch,  G.  P. 
From  an  Inaugural  Essay. 
This  plant,  belonging  to  the  natural  order  Compositse,  is  a  peren- 
nial plant,  indigenous  to  this  country,  growing  more  abundantly  in  the 
