"^"pteSI^^rfioiL'}  ^^'f^^^^can  Pharmaceutical  Association.  441 
the  course  of  which  it  was  pointed  out  that  the  physiological  test 
for  capsicum  was  infinitely  more  delicate  and  more  reliable  than 
the  similar  test  that  has  been  proposed  for  use  in  connection  with 
aconite. 
Aconite. — William  Mansfield  exhibited  a  number  of  samples 
6f  commercial  aconite,  discussed  the  varying  qualities  now  coming 
into  this  market,  and  proposed  that  the  stem  crowned  root  alone 
be  described  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  the  United  States,  maintaining 
that  the  bud  crowned  root  could  be  utilized  for  propagating  or  con- 
tinuing the  plant. 
Ash  Content  of  Drugs. — M.  1.  Wilbert  presented  a  compilation 
of  data  on  pharmacopoeial  limitations  of  the  ash  content  oi  drugs, 
and  pointed  out  that  this  factor  could  not  at  the  present  time  be 
utilized  to  advantage.  The  discussion  emphasized  the  need  for 
permitting  rather  wide  variation  in  the  ash  limitation  of  drugs, 
particularly  in  connection  with  root  and  leaf  drugs. 
Permanency  of  Some  Astringent  Preparations  was  discussed  by 
W.  L.  Scoville,  who  reported  the  systematic  examination  of  twenty 
fluidextracts  of  drugs  containing  tannin,  during  a  period  of  three 
years.  He  outlined  his  method  of  examining  the  preparations  and 
laid  emphasis  on  the  desirability  of  using  strongly  alcoholic  menstrua 
for  drugs  of  this  class. 
The  officers  of  this  section  for  the  coming  year  are  VV.  O. 
Richtmann,  Satsuma  Heights,  Fla.,  Chairman;  and  C.  H.  La  Wall, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Secretary. 
SECTION   ON   COMMERCIAL  INTERESTS. 
The  Section  on  Commercial  Interests  held  two  sessions.  Frank- 
lin M.  Apple,  the  Chairman  of  the  Section,  was  obliged  to  leave 
before  the  opening  session  because  of  sudden  bereavement  in  the 
family,  and  B.  E.  Pritchard,  of  Pittsburgh,  presided.  Many  of 
the  papers  presented  at  this  section  were  discussed  quite  exhaustively 
and  the  immediate  results  will  no'  doubt  be  beneficial. 
Among  the  papers  that  w^ere  read  and  discussed  were  the 
following : 
Commercial  Monopoly — A  Hindrance  to  Progress  in  Materia 
Medica  Science,  was  the  title  of  a  paper  by  F.  E.  Stewart,  in  which 
he  discussed  at  some  length  the  relation  of  product  and  process 
patents  to  scientific  development  of  medicine. 
The  Principles  and  Practices  of  Bookkeeping  were  discussed 
