Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
July,  1884.  | 
Baycuru. 
365 
to  be  collected  and  examined.  The  distillate  tested  for  alkaloids  gave 
negative  result. 
The  residue  in  the  retort  was  then  treated  with  potassa  and  water, 
and  after  standing  for  some  days,  was  again  subjected  to  distillation. 
The  distillate  was  lighter  in  color,  not  so  astringent  (after  neutraliza- 
tion), and  the  odor  was  less  penetrating  and  not  as  disagreeable  as  the 
first  distillate.  What  odor  it  possessed  entirely  disappeared  on  allow- 
ing the  distillate  to  stand  exposed  to  the  air. 
SUMMARY. 
1.  Moisture  8*5  per  cent. 
2.  Ash  9*66  per  cent,  sulphates,  chlorides  and  phosphates  of 
sodium,  potassium,  magnesium  and  calcium. 
3.  Benzol  extract  "388  per  cent,  resin,  wax  and  coloring  matter. 
4.  Alcoholic  extract  16-4  per  cent,  alkaloid,  tannin  (12-15  per  cent.), 
Resin  (T66  per  cent.) 
o    Amipons  extras     \  Infusiou  8'66  Per  cent-  Sum- 
o.  Aqueous  extracts...  j  Decoc.tion  9.39  per  cent>  giUC0Se,  gum. 
6.  Volatile  principle  Volatile  oil  (trace). 
Crystals  of  Potassium  Nitrate  obtained  from  the  juice  of 
Plants. — Perfect  yellowish  crystals  of  potassium  nitrate  up  to  10 
millimeters  long  were  found  in  extractum  Cardui  benedicti  (the  solid 
extract  of  Cnicus  benedictus,  Gaertner).  They  show  the  following 
combinations :  coP.  sgPgc  .Pa  .  2  P  cc  and  sometimes  P.  Crystals 
of  potassium  nitrate  separated  also  from  an  extract,  made  (by  means  of 
alcohol)  from  the  root  of  Oenothera  biennis,  Lin.;  they  have  the 
following  planes :  xP.  ccPa  .  2Pa  . 
Edo  Claassen. 
Cleveland,  June,  1884. 
Hydrobromic  Acid  must  be  used  in  much  larger  doses  than  has  been 
customary  if  any  benefit  is  to  be  derived  from  it.  Such  is  the  opinion  of 
Dr.  H.  C.  Wood  ("Med.  News,"  February  23),  who  has  been  using  this 
drug  recently  in  epileptic  cases.  He  found  in  three  instances  that  half 
ounce  doses  of  the  officinal  hydrobromic  acid  was  much  more  effectual  than 
equivalent  doses  of  bromide  of  sodium,  or  potassium,  and  not  nearly  so 
liable  to  produce  symptoms  of  bromism.  He  gives  the  acid  after  meals, 
with  syrup,  and  diluted  with  half  a  pint  of  water. —  Weekly  Med.  Review, 
March  1. 
