570 
Laboratory  Notes. 
("Am.  Jour.  Pharni. 
\       Nov.,  1884. 
crystals,  which  were  moderately  soluble  in  alcohol,  quite  soluble  in 
water,  and  possessed  a  strong  acrid  taste. 
From  these  results  I  conclude  that  the  crystals  were  those  of  an 
alkaloid  contained  in  Phytolacca  root  and  of  the  hydrochlorate  of  the 
same,  for  which  I  propose  the  name  of  Phytolaccine. 
LABORATORY  NOTES. 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THESES. 
Cantharides. — Emlen  Martin  determined  the  amount  of  cantharidin 
obtainable  from  commercial  cantharides  and  powdered  cantharides 
by  the  method  of  Procter  and  Mortreux  (chloroform  and  carbon 
bisulphide).  One  specimen  in  which  the  soft  parts  had  been  destroyed 
by  mites  yielded  no  cantharidin ;  a  second  specimen  probably  old,  left 
an  uncrystallized  wax-like  substance  not  further  examined;  a  third 
specimen  attacked  by  mites,  gave  '38  per  cent,  of  cantharidin.  Five 
specimens  of  the  powder  yielded  respectively  '25,  *30,  '48,  *49  and 
1*06  per  cent,  of  cantharidin  ;  the  sample  yielding  the  largest  amount, 
being  destitute  of  green  lustrous  particles,  was  most  likely  made  from 
Chinese  blistering  beetles. 
Distilled  Water  of  Wild  Cherry  Leaves. — George  E.  Spangler 
collected  the  leaves  of  Prunus  serotina  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  1883. 
After  macerating  12  J  troy  ounces  of  the  well  bruised  leaves  with  4  J 
pints  of  water,  18  fluidounces  were  distilled  over,  the  distillate  con- 
taining hydrocyanic  acid.  The  leaves  collected  in  July  yielded  a 
stronger  distillate.  It  is  thought  that  if  the  quantity  of  distillate  was 
made  equal  in  weight  to  the  leaves,  the  strength  of  the  water  would 
amount  to  0*1  per  cent.  HCy. 
Spigelia. — William  C.  Boynton,  on  examining  true  pinkroot  ob- 
tained the  following  results  :  Moisture  8*621,  benzol  extract  (resin, 
wax  and  fat)  *518,  alcohol  extract  (resin,  tannin,  extractive)  7*418, 
and  water  extract  (gum,  tannin,  extractive)  11*008  per  cent.;  with 
diluted  alcohol  18*64  per  cent,  of  extract  were  obtained. 
Phlox  Carolina  contained  9*5  per  cent,  of  moisture  and  yielded  with 
diluted  alcohol  17*57  per  cent,  of  extract.  The  ash  is  stated  to  have 
amounted  to  18*8  per  cent.,  and  for  spigelia  to  20*5  per  cent. ;  a 
quantitative  determination  of  its  constituents  was  not  made. 
