28 
Podophyllum  Emodi. 
( Am.  Jour.  Pliarm. 
I        Jan.,  1893. 
Pure  crystalline  picropodophyllin, 
Picropodophyllic  acid,  
Podophyllic  acid,  , 
Podophylloquercetin,  
Fatty  matter,  
P.  Emodi. 
2-6 
not  determined. 
P.  peltatum. 
4*5 
not  determined. 
3o-8 
23 
6-9 
2-4 
57 
The  supposition  of  Podwissotzki  that  the  activity  of  resin  of 
podophyllin  is  dependent  on  the  amount  of  picropodophyllin  which 
it  contains  in  solution  in  picropodophyllic  acid,  receives  confirma- 
tion from  the  above  figures,  which  show  that  the  resin  from  P.  Emodi 
yields  a  considerably  smaller  proportion  of  crystalline  picropodo- 
phyllin than  P.  peltatum.  The  near  relationship  of  the  roots  is 
evidenced  by  the  close  agreement  in  character  of  their  several  con- 
stituents, but  the  value  of  Podophyllum  Emodi,  dependent  on  the 
larger  quantity  of  resin  present  in  it,  is  counter-balanced  by  the 
smaller  proportion  of  the  active  ingredient  present  in  that  resin. 
Briefly  to  summarize,  the  rhizome  of  Podophyllum  Emodi  yields 
nearly  double  the  amount  of  resin  yielded  by  P.  peltatum,  but  that 
resin  contained  only  about  half  the  quantity  of  crystalline  picro- 
podophyllin to  which  the  value  as  a  cathartic  is  due. 
Hence  it  is  undesirable  that  P.  Emodi  should  be  employed  as  an 
alternative  source  for  the  preparation,  according  to  the  official  pro- 
cess, of  podophyllin  resin. 
Additional  Notes. — At  the  meeting  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical 
Conference,  where  the  above  paper  was  read,  Mr.  Moss  stated  that, 
like  Mr.  Umney,  he  had  obtained  a  larger  proportion  of  resin  from 
the  Himalayan  drug  than  from  Podophyllum  peltatum,  but  that  its 
action  was  most  capricious.  In  a  communication  to  the  Pharmaceu- 
tical Journal,  November  26,  Mr.  Umney  states  that  eleven  males, 
varying  in  age  from  18  to  55  years,  took  doses  of  half  a  grain,  with- 
out any  marked  cathartic  action  (except  in  one  instance)  being 
observed.  He  further  remarks  that  "  The  experiments  of  Thomp- 
son cannot  be  taken  into  comparison  with  results  which  I  have 
obtained,  as  he  applies  the  name  podophyllotoxin  to  the  substance 
precipitated  by  ether,  whereas  Podwissotzki  classifies  it  as  inert 
podophyllic  acid." 
C  alcium  oxalate,  met  with  in  the  bark  of  many  trees,  according  to 
G.  Kraus,  must  be  regarded  as  a  reserve  deposit,  which  is  dissolved  and  utilized 
by  the  plant  in  spring  and  summer. — Ann.  agron.,  XVIII. 
