502  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference.  {^l^S^lm; 
lost  50  per  cent,  on  purification.  The  remaining  portion  was  identical  in  melt- 
ing-point and  behavior  toward  reagents  with  the  principle  obtained  according 
to  Duval's  method.  A  combustion  of  the  pure  cascarillin  gave  the  formula 
C16H2405.  It  melted  at  203-5°  C.  C.  and  E.  Mylius  assigned  to  the  principle 
obtained  by  them  the  formula  C12H1804,  and  a  melting-point  of  205°  C.  The 
fact  that  the  substance  isolated  by  the  authors  yielded  a  distillate  allied  to 
anthracene  (CUH10)  when  heated  with  zinc  dust  was  considered  an  indication 
that  their  formula  is  nearer  the  truth.  The  process  of  Allessandri,  which  has 
been  recommended  as  a  commercial  one,  was,  therefore,  regarded  as  untrust- 
worthy. 
BELLADONNA  ROOT  POWDER  ;  SEPARATED  SIFTINGS  COMPARED. 
By  R.  H.  Parker. 
A  sample  of  belladonna  root  was  lightly  ground  and  separated  into  "  fine," 
"medium  "  and  "coarse  "  powders,  by  means  of  sieves,  60,  40  and  20  meshes 
to  the  inch.  After  examination  of  these  portions  separately  the  results  showed 
that  the  fine  powder  gave  a  darker-colored  tincture,  but  contained  less  alka- 
loid ;  and  that  the  removal  of  the  finer  portion  of  belladonna  root  powder,  to  th& 
extent  of  40  per  cent.,  made  the  remainder  of  about  30  per  cent,  increased 
alkaloidal  potency. 
TABLET-MAKING  AT  THE  DISPENSING  COUNTER. 
By  S.  Hardwick, 
This  paper  was  full  of  practical  information,  and  the  author  showed  how, 
with  very  simple  apparatus,  tablets  of  a  great  variety  of  medicaments  can  be 
skilfully  dispensed. 
THE  EFFECTS  OF  CLIMATE  AND  SOIL  ON  OILS  OF  PEPPERMINT. 
By  John  C.  Umney. 
In  a  previous  investigation  the  author  found  that  the  principal  difference  be- 
tween black  and  white  Mitcham  (England)  oils  was  in  the  proportion  of  esters 
of  menthol  present,  the  latter  having  the  higher  percentage  of  these  constitu- 
ents. Moreover,  the  white  had  a  greater  optical  activity  and  gave  a  deeper 
blue  color  with  acetic  and  nitric  acids.  An  authentic  sample  of  oil  distilled  in 
the  United  States  from  white  peppermint  was  not  obtained,  but  samples  from 
black  Mitcham  plants  were  found  to  vary  somewhat,  the  oil  from  Wayne  County, 
N.  Y.,  having  a  higher  ester  percentage  than  that  yielded  by  Michigan  plants. 
The  results  further  showed  that  the  black  Mitcham  plant  when  grown  in  the 
United  States  yields  an  oil  closely  resembling  the  white.  It  was  considered 
unlikely  that  the  higher  percentage  of  Wayne  County,  as  compared  with  other 
American  oils,  was  due  solely  to  superior  methods  of  distillation.  The  oil  from 
Japanese  peppermint  did  not  appear  to  be  much  affected  by  conditions  of  cli- 
mate and  soil,  that  distilled  in  England  and  the  United  States  being  very  simi- 
lar to  the  native  product. 
ON  WHITE  WINE  VINEGAR. 
By  Alfred  H.  Allen. 
The  results  of  analyses  of  the  genuine  article  were  given.    It  was  also  stated 
that  genuine  wine  vinegar  always  contains  a  notable  quantity  of  potassium 
bitartrate,  which  is  not  present  in  vinegar  from  other  sources.  Analysis  showed 
