8  Solania  in  Solatium  Ly coper sicum.  {k^nV\[mC^ 
which  the  elixirs  have  been  run,  I  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as 
condemning  them  in  toto.  Valerianate  of  ammonia  is  so  disagreeable 
in  odor  and  taste  as  to  be  neglected  for  these,  unless  they  be  covered, 
and  the  formula  in  the  United  States  Dispensatory  does  this  suffi- 
ciently well  to  render  it  available,  and  could  assafoetida  also  be  cov- 
ered in  taste  and  smell  without  interference  with  its  therapeutical 
action,  one  of  our  best  nervines  and  anti-spasmodics  would  come  into 
general  use. 
I  hope  that  this  subject  will  receive  the  consideration  of  more  able- 
and  experienced  minds,  and  a  great  evil  be  remedied. 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 
SOLANIA  IN  SOLANUM  LYCOPERSICUM. 
By  George  W.  Kennedy. 
Having  had  a  strong  desire  to  know  whether  or  not  the  commoa 
tomato  plant  (Solanum  lycopersicum)  contained  any  solania,  and  never 
having  seen  any  analysis  of  the  plant,  I  was  induced  to  make  a  series 
of  experiments.  The  fruit  of  the  plant  has  been  examined  by  several 
pharmacists,  but  I  believe  there  was  no  solania  discovered.  Tha 
amount  of  citric  acid  obtained  by  the  experimenters  has  varied  very 
considerably,  thus  suggesting  that  the  fruit  of  different  varieties  has 
been  examined,  or  that  the  fruit  was  collected  at  different  periods  of 
the  year. 
In  giving  the  result  of  my  examination  I  hope  it  may  give  a  little 
more  light  on  a  plant  of  some  importance,  which  I  have  found  to  con- 
tain the  alkaliod  solania.  The  process  for  extracting  the  alkaloid 
was  similar  to  that  of  "Wackenroder,  except  a  slight  change  in  the 
maceration  and  in  using  ammonia  instead  of  hydrated  lime  for  pre- 
cipitation. 
I  took  a  quantity  of  the  living  plant,  leaves  and  stems,  and  bruised 
them  with  water  into  a  pulp  in  a  mortar.  This  pulpy  mass  is  next, 
macerated  for  forty-eight  hours  with  water  enough  to  cover  it,  pre- 
viously acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid  so  as  to  have  a  strong  acid 
reaction.  The  liquid  is  then  expressed,  and  the  residue  treated  again 
with  sulphuric  acid  and  water,  as  in  the  first  maceration.  It  is  now  ex- 
pressed as  before,  the  two  liquids  are  mixed,  and,  after  standing  for 
some  days,  filteredand  treated  with  water  of  ammonia,  sp.  gr.  0.960,  in 
excess.    The  precipitate  that  forms  is  separated  by  straining  dried 
