christison's dispensatory. 
291 
Bad as these may be, they must be decidedly active when 
compared with the stuff designated as scammony, and sold 
as of first quality in the United States. One lot, which 
was extensively distributed, and which during the past 
year fell under our observation, contained but 6 per cent, 
of resin; the basis of it was gum tragacanth. The moral 
sense of the drug community must either be greatly de- 
praved, or else extreme ignorance prevails in it, to tolerate 
such imposition. The recent act of Congress with regard 
to adulterated and spurious articles, will, we hope, aid and 
facilitate the exposure of all such imposition. 
For] the chemical examination of articles employed in 
medicine, we are indebted to European, and more espe- 
cially to continental experimenters. The rich reward of 
fame is justly due the chemists who have zealously and in- 
defatigably laboured in this field of research ; a few laurels, 
however, might be awarded those who in this country have 
manifested a similar spirit, and really have contributed 
their quota to the progress of analysis. We are prompted 
to this reflection from the examination of the article on 
Lobelia, in which not one word is mentioned of the re- 
searches of Mr. Procter, although he, at least ten years 
back, satisfactorily isolated the principle upon which the 
activity of the drug depends, and by a continued series of 
experiments since, has studied its character and properties. 
His papers are published in the American Journal of 
Pharmacy. We might excuse Dr. Christison for such 
omission, but in the reprint justice should have prompted, 
as well as policy suggested, the completion of the chemical 
history. 
Upon turning over the pages some slight errors are ob- 
servable, as for instance, in attributing the Tahiti arrowroot , 
to Tacca pinnatifida. Mr. Nuttall, several years ago, de- 
scribed the plant affording Sandwich Island arrowroot, and 
gave to it the name of T. oceanicaj because so widely dif- 
