158  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  {AmMS;f£rm' 
prismatic  needles, 'fuses  at  about  100°  C,  losing  its  water  of  crystallization,  and 
sublimes  undecomposed  at  a  higher  temperature;  it  is  sparingly  soluble  in  cold 
water,  more  so  in  hot  water,  and  is  free^  so'uble  in  alcohol,  ether  and  acetic 
acid.  Its  alcoholic  solution  will  bear  considerable  dilution  with  water  without 
precipitation  of  the  terpin.  Wiggers  states  that  it  may  be  prepared  by  adding 
two  parts  of  nitric  acid  1*25  to  1/30  to  eight  parts  of  oil  of  turpentine  and  one  part 
of  alcohol,  sp.  gr.  863.  shaking  the  mixture  well  for  several  days,  then  setting 
aside  at  a  temperature  of  68°  to  78°,  for  the  terpin  to  crystallize.  Its  dose  is 
about  3  to  6  grains  (see  Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.,  1885,  p.  293). 
Hydro-nap hthol  was  also  shown  by  Mr.  Bullock.  Under  this  name  an  article 
has  lately  been  introduced  as  an  antiseptic  for  surgical  dressings.  Naphthol, 
C10H7OH,  is  a  derivative  of  napthalene,  C10H8,  by  the  substitution  of  one 
molecule  of  hydroxy  1  for  one  of  the  hydrogen  atoms  in  the  naphthalene. 
When  naphthalene  is  heated  with  sulphuric  acid,  two  isomeric  sulphonaph- 
thalic  acids  are  formed,  called  alpha  and  beta  sulphonaphthalic  acids;  if  the 
heat  is  carried  to  160°  C,  the  product  is  almost  entire' y  beta  sulphonaphthalic 
acid ;  by  heating  sulphonaphthalate  of  potassium  with  potassium  hydroxide, 
two  forms  of  naphthol  are  obtained,  called  alpha  and  beta  naphthol.  Hydro- 
naphthol,  as  it  appears  in  the  market,  is  a  gray  powder  of  a  micaceous  appear- 
ance, and  a  faint  odor  resembling  naphthalene,  it  fuses  between  113°  and  118° 
C,  at  126°  C.  gives  off  vapor  and  commences  to  sublime  at  130°  C,  and  sublimes 
completely  between  140°  and  145°  C,  giving  a  product  of  small,  colorless  rhombic 
plates;  it  commences  to  boil  at  260°  and  the  boiling  point  is  almost  constant  at 
280°  O.  A  dark  carbonaceous  residue  is  left  after  sublimation.  From  these 
properties  the  so-called  hydronaphthol  appears  to  correspond  with  beta  naph- 
thol in  an  impure  condition.  It  dissolves  in  100  parts  of  hot  water,  which  after 
cooling  retains  in  solution  about  1  part  in  a  thousand.  It  is  freely  soluble  in 
alcohol,  ether,  benzol  and  the  alkalies;  alkaline  solutions  are  said  to  impair  the 
antiseptic  qualities  of  the  article. 
Prof.  Trimble  exhibited  specimens  of  the  root  of  Yerba  del  Indio,  a  Mexican 
remedy  for  colic,  and  used  in  the  arts  for  tanning.  This  sample  was  sent  from 
Texas  by  Mr.  H.  J.  Schuchard,  a  graduate  of  this  college.  When  first  received 
it  was  in  the  green  state  and  was  very  astringent,  but  after  drying  it  had  lost 
much  of  its  astringency  and  was  attacked  by  insects.  Mr.  S.  S.  Jones,  of  the 
present  class,  experimented  with  it,  and  it  was  from  his  work  that  the  facts 
were  ascertained  described  in  the  paper  read  by  Prof.  Trimble  (see  page  113). 
Prof.  Maisch  stated  that  some  ten  years  since  Mr.  Yoelcker  examined  a  root 
called  Raiz  del  Indico,  and  found  it  to  contain  chrysophanic  acid  and  other 
principles,  present  in  certain  polygonaceous  roots ;  this  root  was  very  similar  to 
the  specimens  exhibited,  but  was  smaller. 
Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  to  the  meeting  specimens,  sent  by  Prof.  Soubeiran,  of 
very  slender  ergot,  with  the  inflorescence  of  a  large  grass,  called  diss  by  the 
Arabs  of  Algeria,  upon  which  the  ergot  had  grown. 
Prof.  Maisch  also  exhibited  specimens  of  assahy  and  bacaba,  palmseeds,  sent 
from  Brazil  to  Mr.  Louis  Dohme  of  Baltimore,  and  made  the  following  state- 
ments :  Assahy  or  assay  is  the  Brazilian  name  for  Euterpe  edulis,  Martius,  the 
young  shoots  of  which  and  of  some  allied  species  are  used  as  pot-herbs;  the 
fruit  bruised  and  macerated  with  water,  yields  a  wine-colored  filtrate,  which, 
mixed  with  sugar,  furnishes  an  agreeable  refrigerant  beverage.   A  butyraceous 
