Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1896. 
Laboratory  Notes. 
193 
APOCYNUM  ANDROS^EMIFOLIUM . 
An  inspection  of  a  root  purchased  for  the  Botanical  Laboratory 
of  the  College,  as  dogsbane  (Apocynum  androsaemifolium,  Linne) 
showed  it  to  consist  entirely  of  Canadian  hemp  (Apocynum  canna- 
binum,  Linne). 
This  substitution,  according  to  the  National  Dispensatory,  fre- 
quently occurs,  and  need  not  be  wondered  at,  as  Apocynum  canna- 
binum  is  the  commoner  of  the  two.  Prof.  Bastin  states  having  seen 
many  acres  of  our  Western  plains  covered  with  it. 
In  talking  with  a  representative  of  a  drug  house  in  this  city,  from 
whom  I  procured  what  was  represented  to  be- dogsbane  root,  he  said 
it  was  the  only  kind  kept  by  them,  which  he  said  they  sold  indis- 
criminately for  either  species.  On  investigation,  1  found  it  to  be 
Canadian  hemp  root. 
These  roots  resemble  each  other  so  closely  that  the  difference  be- 
tween them  is  difficult  to  determine  by  even  a  careful  inspection, 
and  yet  they  differ  somewhat  in  medicinal  properties,  the  A.  canna- 
binum  being  the  more  active  of  the  two. 
A  quick  method  of  examination,  that  does  not  necessitate  the  use 
of  a  compound  microscope,  is  to  make  a  neat  section  with  a  pen- 
knife and  apply  the  phloroglucin  test,  when  the  groups  of  lignified 
stone  cells  (not  bast  cells,  as  described  by  Manheimer  in  the  Amer. 
Jour.  Phar.,  1881,  p.  554)  will  stain  red,  and  can  be  readily  seen  by 
a  magnifier. 
LABORATORY  NOTES  ON  OIL  OF  CASSIA,  ELM  BARK, 
IPECAC  ROOT,  POTASSIUM  IODIDE,  REDUCED  IRON 
AND  SAFFRON. 
By  L,yman  F.  Kkbi^kr. 
In  many  minds  lingers  the  erroneous  idea  that  goods  contained  in 
original  packages,  coming  from  apparently  ignorant  producers,  must 
be  pure.    Thus  "  country  beeswax  "  cannot  be  adulterated  because 
the  bee-keeper  is  not  versed  in  the  art  of  sophistication  ;  the 
Chinese  are  too  ignorant  to  adulterate  oil  of  cassia,  etc.    That  this 
idea  is  false  and  misleading  will  be  supported  by  many  analysts,  and 
corroborated  by  some  of  the  following  results.    The  data  recorded 
below  were  obtained  from  material  procured  directly  from  the  pro- 
ducers or  their  agents,  and  represent  the  articles  as  supplied  to  the 
wholesale  drug  trade  in  general. 
