Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  1899. 
Substitute  for  Beeswax. 
217 
conformed  to  all  the  reactions  demanded  by  the  United  States  Phar- 
macopoeia, and,  in  addition,  to  the  potassium  iodate  test,  as  well  as 
Mayer's  alkaloidal  test. 
To  sum  up,  Viola  sagittata  is  not  an  eclectic  remedy,  for  the  rea- 
son that  the  name  does  not  occur  in  eclectic  literature,  and  the  drug 
is  not  employed  by  eclectics.  "  Husa  "  is  said  by  "  Dr,  Winthrop  " 
to  be  an  undetermined  plant  (unknown  to  science),  found  by  two 
plume  bird  hunters  and  gathered  by  them  by  the  boat-load.  My 
investigation  of  "  Husa,"  as  sold  by  its  discoverer  to  his  professional 
patrons,  is  to  the  effect  that  "  Husa  "  is  a  liquid  containing  large 
amounts  of  sulphate  of  morphine,  some  salicylic  acid,  some  alcohol, 
water,  glycerine  and  coloring-matter,  probably  burnt  sugar. 
The  discoverer  of  this  wonderful  antidote  to  the  morphine  habit 
asserts  that  a  multitude  of  physicians  are  availing  themselves  of 
"  Husa  "  as  a  substitute  for  morphine  and  opium  in  the  treatment  of 
victims  addicted  to  the  opium  habit.  This  I  believe  fully,  judging 
from  the  extensive  advertising  "  Husa"  has  received  by  the  grace 
of  the  editorial  and  reading  columns  of  the  American  medical  press, 
and  judging  from  the  high  price  charged  for  the  morphine,  I  would 
fain  believe  that  the  term  "  victim  "  should  not  be  restricted  to  the 
consumer  of  <4  Husa." 
I  would  define  "  Husa  "  as  follows  :  A  solution  of  sulphate  of 
morphine  to  be  administered  under  the  name  "  Husa,"  and  only  by 
physicians.  It  is  sold  to  physicians  at  the  rate  of  #10  for  about 
234  grains  of  morphine.  In  support  of  this  view,  I  offer  the  fore- 
going testimony  and  submit  herewith  the  morphine  obtained  from 
25  c.c.  of  each  liquid.  Until  I  am  furnished  with  a  new  plant  con- 
taining morphine  to  the  extent  found  in  these  experiments,  I  shall 
accept  that  u  Husa  "  is  a  concoction. 
In  conclusion,  I  take  pleasure  in  extending  thanks  to  Dr.  Sigmond 
Waldbott  for  laboratory  assistance,  and  to  the  physician  who  ob- 
tained for  me  the  "  Husa  "  preparation  from  "  Dr.  Winthrop." 
l/   
JAPAN  WAX  AS  A  SUBSTITUTE  FOR  BEESWAX  IN  THE 
OFFICIAL  OINTMENTS  AND  CERATES. 
By  Robt.  C.  Pursei.. 
With  the  progress  of  pharmacy,  new  products  are  being  continu- 
ally brought  forward  which  may  have  new  properties  or  which  may 
be  used  to  replace  products  already  in  use.    On  account  of  the 
