RESINOID  MATTER  OF  COLOCYNTH.  505 
green.  The  quantity  obtained  was  too  little  for  any  attempt  at 
the  preparation  of  Elaterium. 
Arrangements  were  made  for  renewing  the  experiments  the 
present  year,  but  absence  from  home  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  at  the  proper  period  for  planting,  interfered  with  the 
design,  and,  as  a  consequence,  I  am  unable  to  answer  the  ques- 
tion referred  to  me  by  the  Association. 
Something,  however,  in  the  way  of  experience  has  been 
gained,  which  will  prove  useful  to  other  observers,  more  favor- 
ably situated,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  inquiry.  In  England, 
according  to  the  late  Mr.  Jacob  Bell,  the  seeds  are  sown  in 
March,  and  the  seedlings  planted  in  June.  My  best  results 
were  obtained  by  placing  the  seeds  in  pots  towards  the  last  of 
April,  and  setting  out  the  plants  in  rich  warm  soil  in  the  latter 
part  of  May,  or  beginning  of  June.  When  thus  managed,  the 
Momordica  Elaterium  thrives  vigorously  in  our  climate,  and  I 
do  not  entertain  a  doubt  as  to  its  yielding  a  large  amount  of 
active'  principle. 
Philadelphia,  August,  1862. 
ON  THE  RESINOID  MATTER  OF  COLOCYNTH. 
By  John  Faber. 
(From  the  Proceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association.) 
H  as  the  resinoid  principle  of  Colocynth,  extracted  by  alcohol, 
a  reliable  and  constant  therapeutic  power,  and  may  it  be 
advantageously  employed  in  medicine? 
2  J  lbs.  Colocynth  were  deprived  of  the  seeds  and  the  pulp, 
weighing  10  ounces,  treated  with  90  per  cent,  alcohol,  the 
result  being  a  resinous  product,  weighing  1J  ounce.  Follows 
specimen. 
As  the  medicinal  action  could  only  be  investigated  by  the 
physician,  I  distributed  it  among  my  acquaintances,  put  up 
for  their  convenience  in  \,  \  and  1  grain  pills,  but  failed  to  get 
a  report;  the  majority  of  them  being  afraid  of  the  violent 
action,  while  some  of  them  that  had  sufficient  interest  in  the 
