373 
Structure  of  Gelsemium. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pbarm. 
X     August,  1898. 
solution  is  required.  According  to  the  table,  an  85  per  cent,  acid 
would  have  required  10.3  c.c,  so  a  simple  proportion  is  all  that  is 
required. 
10-3  :  107  :  :  85  :  % • ;  x  —  88  per  cent. 
This  quantitative  bromine  test  as  a  substitute  for  the  present 
pharmacopceial  solubility  test,  and  the  test  for  alkali  are  all  that  is 
required  to  arrive  at  the  value  of  a  sample  for  disinfecting  purposes. 
No  other  information  of  any  value  can  be  obtained  short  of  a  frac- 
tional distillation. 
Pharmaceutical  Laboratory  of  the 
New  York  College  of  Pharmacy,  June,  1898. 
STRUCTURE  OF  GELSEMIUM. 
By  Joseph  D.  Skibereing,  p.d. 
The  structure,  and  more  especially  the  chemistry,  of  gelsemium 
have  been  frequently  investigated.  There  are  still  a  number  of  points 
in  the  development  history,  as  well  as  morphology,  of  this  important 
drug  that  require  consideration.  In  order  to  be  clear  on  the  por- 
tions studied,  whole  rhizome,  overground  stem  and  root,  Prof. 
Kraemer  suggested  that  living  specimens  be  procured.  These  were 
obtained  from  the  nurseries  of  Mr.  Meehan,  Germantown,  and 
Mr.  Lamb,  Fayetteville,  N.  C. 
Gelsemium  sempervirens,  (L.)  Pers.  (also  known  as  G.  nitidum,  Mx. 
and  Bignonia  sempervireus,  L.)  is  a  woody  climber,  growing  in  woods 
or  thickets  of  the  Southern  United  States  and  extending  along  the 
seaboard  into  Texas,  Mexico  and  Guatemala.  The  underground 
stem  is  hardy,  woody  and  of  varying  length.  The  overground 
stem  is  slender  and  purplish,  climbing  to  a  height  of  15  to  20  feet 
or  more.  The  leaves  are  perennial,  lanceolate,  short  petioled,  entire, 
and  opppsite.  The  flowers  are  large,  in  opposite  axillary  clusters, 
mostly  solitary,  although  varying  from  one  to  six  flowered.  The 
calyx  is  short,  consisting  of  five  lobes.  The  corolla  is  large,  funnel- 
shaped,  bright  yellow.  Stamens  are  five  in  number  and  inserted 
upon  the  base  of  the  corolla  tube.  "  Stigmas  in  one  form,  short  and 
anthers  exserted;  in  the  other  form,  longer  and  anthers  included." 
The  fruit  is  a  dry  capsule,  of  a  brown  color  and  dehisces  septicidally 
