Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
September,  1920.  ) 
English  Dried-Flower  Industry. 
677 
and  increase  the  tonus  of  smooth  muscle.  The  second,  or  benzyl- 
isoquinohn  group,  of  which  papaverin  is  the  conspicuous  member, 
inhibits  the  contractions  and  lowers  the  tonus  of  the  same  active 
tissue.  It  was  through  the  discriminating  pharmacologic  analysis 
that  attention  became  prominently  directed  to  the  inhibitory  effect 
of  benzyl  alcohol  and  its  derivatives,  so  that  they  have  found  some 
recognition  in  therapy  as  antispasmodics.  On  the  other  hand, 
Straub's  so-called  morphine  reaction,  consisting  in  a  peculiar  stiffen- 
ing or  bending  backward  or  curling  of  the  tails  of  mice  which  have 
received  doses  of  morphine,  can  now  be  explained  as  due  to  the 
spasms  of  the  sphincters  of  the  anus  and  bladder  provoked  by  the 
alkaloid  in  question.  As  the  morphine  molecule  includes  both  piper- 
idin  and  phenanthrene  groups,  Macht^  has  undertaken  to  ascer- 
tain the  effect  of  these  groups  separately  on  smooth  muscle.  The 
upshot  of  the  research  has  been  to  demonstrate  the  comparative 
inertness  of  phenanthrene,  whereas  piperidin  is  found  to  be  a  power- 
ful stimulant  of  this  contractile  tissue,  suitable  doses  causing  an 
increase  in  the  rate  and  strength  of  its  contractions  and  an  increase 
in  its  tonicity.  Macht  asserts  that  this  interesting  effect  of  piperidin 
on  smooth  muscle  has  never  before  been  described.  Its  possible 
significance  deserves  further  consideration. 
ENGLISH  DRIED-FLOWER  INDUSTRY. 
By  Ai^fre^d  Nutting, 
clerk  in  american  consulate  general,  london. 
In  consequence  of  the  shortage  during  the  war  of  medicinal 
herbs,  an  association  of  women  in  Suffolk  started  the  systematic 
collection  of  such  plants.  From  1916  to  1918  belladonna,  henbane 
and  foxglove  were  the  chief  herbs  handled.  Last  year  the  demand 
for  these  fell  off,  but  in  their  place  arose  a  request  for  sweet-smelling 
herbs  and  flowers,  and  it  is  reported  that  during  the  current  year 
collections  thereof  for  the  perfumery  trade  are  being  organized 
throughout  the  county  of  Suffolk.  The  new  scheme  is  under  the 
supervision  of  women  botanical  experts.  It  is  stated  that  this  rural 
industry  has  already  resulted  in  considerable  pecuniary  benefit 
to  East  Anglian  villagers,  who  have  been  instructed  in  the  proper 
method  of  collecting.  During  the  current  month  the  picking  of 
fresh  heads  of  cowslips  commences,  cowslips  being  used  for  sachets 
2  Macht,  D.  I.:  "A  Pharmacodynamic  Analysis  of  Straub's  Morphine  Reac- 
tion," /.  Pharmacol.  &  Exper.  Therap.,  15:  243  (May),  1920. 
