Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
August,  1920.  ) 
Notes  on  Henna. 
543 
A  very  important  publication  dealing  indirectly  with  the  same 
subject  is  ''Circular  46  of  the  Bureau  of  Entomology,  U.  S.  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  on  Hydrocyanic  Acid  Gas  against  House- 
hold Insects,"  by  L.  O.  Howard. 
This  method  of  fumigation  has  upon  numerous  occasions  been 
the  cause  of  death  of  those  who  attempted  to  carry  out  the  opera- 
tion without  realizing  its  dangers.  Inasmuch  as  the  pharmacist 
is  the  one  who  is  usually  called  upon  to  supply  the  materials  to  be 
used  for  this  method  of  fumigation,  it  is  reasonable  to  expect  of  him 
that  he  should  have  authoritative  knowledge  upon  the  subject 
and  be  prepared  to  give  advice  as  to  the  details  of  carrying  out  the 
process  with  a  minimum  of  danger. 
Farmers'  Bulletin  12J  deals  with  "Important  Insecticides" 
in  general  and  is  by  C.  L.  Marlatt.  In  it  are  discussed  at  length 
the  methods  of  preparing  and  using  all  of  the  commonly  used  insecti- 
cide sprays,  washes,  vapors,  soaps  and  oils.  The  usefulness  of  this 
bulletin  will  be  more  apparent  to  the  country  pharmacist  than  to 
his  city  brother,  for  it  is  in  the  country  that  Bordeaux  mixture,  lime- 
sulphur  spray  and  kerosene  emulsion  are  more  frequently  called  for. 
The  foregoing  are  just  a  few  scattered  examples  taken  from  the 
writer's  collection  of  similar  publications  which  has  been  accumula- 
ting for  years  and  which  has  been  found  to  be  of  great  and  continual 
value.  To  those  who  contemplate  starting  a  collection  of  this  kind 
it  may  be  suggested  that  upon  application  to  the  Superintendent 
of  Documents,  there  will  be  sent  free  of  charge  a  complete  index  of 
government  publications  with  prices  thereof.  To  those  who,  hav- 
ing established  such  a  collection,  wish  to  keep  it  up  to  date,  a  monthly 
index  will  be  sent  containing  lists  of  new  bulletins,  circulars,  etc., 
as  issued. 
This  is  one  of  the  neglected  or  unrecognized  opportunities  which, 
when  properly  taken  advantage  of,  will  yield  returns  both  in  money 
and  in  prestige  to  the  pharmacist  who  takes  the  time  and  trouble 
to  make  such  a  collection  and  use  it. 
NOTES  ON  HENNA. 
By  Benja.min  H.  Hoffstbin,  Ph.C. 
Despite  the  fact  that  Henna  has  been  in  use  for  some  thousand 
years,  the  literature  dealing  with  its  various  compounds  and  uses  is 
scattered  and  fragmentary.    The  various  compounds  of  Henna  have 
