Am.  Jour.  Pharm.) 
Dec,  1890.  J 
Editorials. 
631 
attention  as  a  remedy  in  convulsive  diseases  (see  Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.,  1889, 
P-  552). 
Professor  Trimble  read  a  paper  upon  the  California  soap  plant,  the  Chloro- 
galum  pomeridianum ,  and  exhibited  specimens  of  the  bulb.  Reference  was 
made  to  the  bulbs  preserved  in  the  College  Cabinet,  donated  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Brown 
thirteen  years  ago  ;  also  to  the  uses  of  the  bulbs  as  described  in  previous  vol- 
umes of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy  (1877,  p.  569,  and  1878,  p.  589). 
A  paper  upon  tests  for  the  hypophosphites  was  read  by  F.  X.  Moerk,  Ph.G. 
In  the  discussion  which  followed,  reference  was  also  made  to  certain  organic 
substances,  like  arbutin,  which  produce,  in  alkaline  solution,  with  phospho- 
molybdic  acid,  a  blue  color  similar  to  that  described  in  the  paper. 
Mr.  Moerk  also  read  a  paper  upon  the  detection  of  silver  salts  in  the  presence 
of  mercurous  salts,  and  stated  that  he  had  not  seen  any  notice  of  the  power  of 
the  mercurous  salts  to  prevent  the  usual  reaction  of  the  former  with  hydro- 
chloric acid  and  ammonia. 
Mr.  C.  A.  Heinitsh  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Java  Cinnamon  which  he  had 
obtained  from  a  wholesale  dealer  in  spices  in  this  city  ;  the  similarity  of  the 
flavor  and  odor  to  that  of  Ceylon  Cinnamon  was  quite  remarkable.  Professor 
Maisch  said  that  Cinnamomum  zeylanicum  had  been  cultivated  in  Java,  and 
that  the  bark  was  sometimes  sent  into  the  market  deprived  of  the  corky  layer, 
so  as  to  resemble  Ceylon  cinnamon  in  appearance.  Reference  was  also  made 
to  some  varieties  of  cinnamon  which  are  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  Chinese 
(see  this  Journal,  October,  p.  497),  and  some  of  which  may  be  procured  in  this 
country  from  Chinese  merchants. 
The  papers  were  referred  for  publication,  and  the  meeting  adjourned. 
EDITORIALS. 
The  Decennial  Index  for  the  last  ten  volumes  of  The  American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy  is  in  course  of  preparation,  but  it  cannot  be  completed  for  some 
weeks  to  come,  and  will  probably  not  be  ready  for  issue  for  several  months. 
In  this  connection,  we  desire  to  extend  our  thanks  to  our  contributors,  as  well 
as  to  our  readers,  and  to  bespeak  for  the  Journal  a  continuance  of  their 
friendly  and  valued  interest,  and  a  further  extension  of  its  influence  and 
usefulness. 
The  California  College  of  Pharmacy  holds  its  sessions  during  the  summer 
months.  Its  eighteenth  annual  commencement  took  place  at  San  Francisco, 
October  28  last,  when  the  degree  of  Ph.  G.  was  conferred  upon  15  successful 
candidates  by  the  President  of  the  University  of  California.  Addresses  were 
made  by  President  Melvin,  of  the  California  Pharmaceutical  Society  ;  by  H.  E. 
Highton,  Esq.,  by  Professor  Runyon,  and  by  B.  A.  Mardis,  of  the  graduating 
class.  Two  prizes  were  awarded,  a  gold  medal  to  Stephen  Cleary,  and  a 
microscope  with  attachments  to  John  V.  Leithold. 
The  Detroit  College  of  Medicine  has  organized  a  Department  of  Pharmacy, 
in  which  lectures  are  to  begin  early  in  January.  Michigan  has  already  a  well- 
equipped  and  well-known  Pharmacy  School  connected  with  the  State  Univer- 
sity at  Ann  Arbor. 
Tablets  of  Potassium  Chlorate  and  Ammonium  Chloride. — The  notice  in  our 
August  number,  reporting  the  spontaneous  detonation  of  tablets  of  the  com- 
