Am-ju°iyr;i89h6arm }      The  Making  of  an  Herbarium.  379 
whereby  most  of  it  was  left  undissolved.  It  had  the  appearance  of 
coagulated  albumen.  B.  Decanted.  Added  q.  s.  ethyl  ether,  ammo- 
nia to  slight  excess,  and  left  it  to  itself  for  five  days,  to  see  if  mor- 
phine would  crystallize  out. 
This  experiment  failed.    No  crystals  were  obtained. 
IX.  The  fluid  used  to  experiment  upon,  if  morphine  could  be  ob- 
tained in  the  crystalline  state,  was  evaporated  to  dryness.  The  pres- 
ence of  morphine  in  the  residue  was  again  verified  by  Frohde's  and 
Husemann's  tests.  Herein  lays  another  evidence  for  the  separation 
of  ptomaine-like  bodies  and  morphine,  as  well  as  for  Kippen- 
berger's  opinion,  that  much  of  what  is  described  in  our  literature 
as  "  cadaver  alkaloid,"  and  as  answering  to  general  group  reactions 
on  alkaloids,  is  a  mixture  of  peptones  and  albuminates.  (See  VIII, 
A  and  B.) 
Conclusion. — No  better  conclusion  can  be  drawn  than  a  statement 
that  a  popular  belief  in  the  destructive  power  for  alkaloids,  of  the 
decomposition  of  cadavers,  has  no  foundation  in  the  facts. 
N.  W.  University, 
School  of  Pharmacy,  May,  1896. 
THE  MAKING  OF  AN  HERBARIUM.1— 
By  Ci/ement  B.  Lowe. 
A  series  of  practical  suggestions  are  wanted  as  to  the  best  method  of  collect- 
ing, identifying  and  preserving  plants  for  making  an  herbarium. 
In  answering  the  above  query,  I  would  state  that  it  is  a  pity  that 
more  pharmacists  are  not  interested  in  field  botany,  as,  aside  from 
the  valuable  information  thus  to  be  obtained,  the  collection  of  plants 
is  a  healthful  occupation,  and  tends  to  give  the  outdoor  exercise 
which  so  many  of  them  need. 
In  collecting  plants  a  suitable  receptacle  for  containing  them  is 
necessary,  which  should  be  as  nearly  air-tight  as  possible,  so  that 
the  contents  can  be  kept  fresh  for  several  days.  A  japanned  tin 
box,  about  17  inches  long  by  7  inches  wide  and  4  inches  deep,  with 
a  lid  opening  nearly  the  length  of  the  flat  side,  suspended  from  the 
shoulder  by  a  strap,  will  answer  the  purpose  well. 
Many  prefer  to  take  a  stout  portfolio,  either  hinged  on  one  side  or 
1  Read  before  the  Pennsylvania  Pharmaceutical  Association,  at  Mt.  Holly 
Springs,  June  17,  1896. 
