Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  "> 
October.  1898.  / 
Notes  and  News. 
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NOTES  AND  NEWS. 
Corn  Smut. — According  to  Dietrich  {Pharm.  Zeit.),  the  amount  of  alkaloids 
in  Secale  cornutum  is  somewhat  higher  than  is  given  frequently  in  the  text- 
books.   Five  samples  yielded  between  C155  and  0^340  per  cent,  of  alkaloids. 
Balsam  of  Sao  Thome. — According  to  Moeller  [Ber.  d.  D.  Pharm.  Ges., 
1898,  p.  21)  the  tree  which  yields  this  balsam  is  one  of  the  Burseraceae,  Santi- 
riopsis  balsamifera,  Engl.  It  attains  a  height  of  15  to  18  metres,  and  from  it 
flows  spontaneously  a  balsamic  resin  of  reputed  healing  properties. 
Poisoning  by  Copaiba. — A  case  is  reported  by  W.  H.  Thompson  {Brit.  Med. 
Jour.),  of  a  man  aged  twenty-seven,  who  had  been  taking  the  balsam  for  about 
three  weeks.  The  face  and  whole  body  were  covered  with  reddish  patches. 
The  temperature  was  increased,  the  pulse  reduced.  The  urine  did  not  show 
any  indications  of  sugar  or  albumen.  The  medicine  was  discontinued  and  the 
•patient  recovered. 
Microbes. — A  scientist,  looking  for  microbes,  says  there  are  absolutely  none 
on  the  Swiss  mountains  at  an  altitude  of  2,000  feet.  Here  is  the  place  for  the 
purity  party  ;  and  scaremongers  who  are  forever  horrifying  the  public  with  the 
dismal  fear  of  microbes;  they  would  have  to  take  their  supply  with  them,  most 
of  which  are  useful  to  man.  It  is  pleasing  to  observe  that  the  microbe  does 
not  give  himself  lofty  airs,  but  as  a  fellow-creature  comes  down  to  our  level  and 
dwells  cheerily  in  our  midst. — Meehaus'  Monthly,  from  Revue  Scientifique. 
Export  of  Arsenic. — The  first  quarter  of  the  year  1898,  presents  some  new 
features  in  exports  from  Liege,  according  to  Consul  Gilbert  of  that  place.  In 
1895  arsenic  was  exported  to  the  United  States  to  the  value  of  $19,998.77.  In 
1896  the  aggregate  of  such  exports  was  $18,051.77.  In  the  first  two  quarters  of 
the  year  1897  no  arsenic  was  invoiced  at  this  Consulate,  but  during  the  last  two 
quarters  $29,225.14  worth  of  arsenic  was  forwarded  to  the  United  States.  Dur- 
ing the  first  quarter  of  189S  the  declared  value  of  white  arsenic  at  the  Consulate 
was  $15,961.23. — Consular  Reports,  June,  1898. 
Chicago  Retail  Druggists'  Association. — A  special  Committee  on  National 
Organization  has  issued  a  circular  to  retail  druggists  and  their  organizations  in 
the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  delegate  convention  in  St.  Louis, 
October  17,  1898,  out  of  which  it  is  hoped  a  vigorous,  centralized  influence  for 
the  improvement  and  advancement  of  the  commercial  interests  of  the  retail 
trade  may  be  created.  The  Committee,  of  which  William  A.  Dyche  is  Chair- 
man, urges  upon  the  druggists  of  the  country  an  active  and  earnest  participa- 
tion in  making  this  movement  unqualifiedly  successful. 
Goat  Milk  Cure  in  France. — Consul-general  Gowdy  reports  in  Consular 
Reports  (June,  1S9S)  :  "  I  cannot  discover  that  goat's  milk  is  used  for  clinical 
purposes  in  France.  It  is,  however,  sometimes  given  to  sickly  children,  when 
it  is  found  that  the  milk  of  cows  and  the  various  prepared  milks  do  not  agree 
with  them.  Goat's  milk  is  very  rich  in  cream  and  nutritious  substances  and 
there  is  a  popular  belief  that  it  is  a  useful  article  of  diet  in  pulmonic  and  anemic 
complaints.  It  is  served  at  the  domiciles  from  troops  of  goats  which  are  milked 
