356 
Polygonum  Hydropiper. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1886. 
The  results  of  the  experiments  described  in  this  and  the  preceding 
papers  of  the  author  point  to  the  following  constitution  for 
papaverine : — 
C9NH4(OMe)2'C6H2Me(OMe)2  [Me  :  OMe  :  OMe  =  2:5:6]. 
The  author  hopes  soon  to  be  able  to  determine  the  positions  of  the 
two  methoxyl-groups  in  the  quinoline  nucleus. — Jour.  Chem.  Soc, 
1886,  p.  478.— Monatsh.  Chem.,  vi.,  954. 
POLYGONUM  HYDROPIPER.1 
In  the  last  number  of  this  Journal,  we  notice  a  paper  on  the  active  principle 
of  this  drug,  by  C.  J.  Rademaker,  M.  D.,in  which  he  severely  criticizes  an 
analysis  made  by  us,  and  published  in  this  Journal  January,  1885.  We  cannot 
resist  calling  attention  to  the  following  statement: 
1st.  In  1871,  Dr.  Rademaker  claimed  to  have  discovered  the  active  principle 
of  Polygonum  Hydropiper  (see  this  Journal)  by  a  process  which,  as  we 
showed,  would  certainly  yield  tannic  acid,  or  a  mixture  of  tannic  and  gallic 
acids.    This  part  of  our  paper  he  in  no  way  questions. 
2d.  He  now  offers,  in  place  of  the  process  published  in  1871,  a  very  different 
method.  Whether  or  not  this  new  process  will  yield  the  so-called  polygonic 
acid,  we  do  not  care  at  present  to  say,  except  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that 
the  only  evidence  offered  is  a  drawing  of  the  crystals,  as  they  appear  under  a 
microscope,  showing  700  diameters. 
3d.  It  is  almost  unnecessary  to  remind  the  readers  of  this  Journal,  that  it  is 
very  poor  chemistry  to  judge  of  the  unknown  constituents  of  a  plant  by  its 
physiological  action,  or  by  the  appearance  of  an  ether  residue  under  the  micro- 
scope. 
4th.  No  evidence  is  offered  of  the  "imperfect  manipulation"  of  which  he 
accuses  us  ;  and  we  did  not  say  (as  he  quoted  us)  that  our  drug  was  collected  by 
an  expert  botanist. 
6th.  If  Dr.  Rademaker  will  send  10  grams  of  the  so-called  polygonic  acid,. 
prepared  by  the  process  published  in  1871,  to  the  editor  of  this  Journal  for  presenta- 
tion at  one  of  the  pharmaceutical  meetings,  together  with  a  full  account  of  the 
method  of  manufacture,  we  have  no  doubt  that  body  will  appoint  some  one  to 
verify  it.  This  would  be  a  rapid  and  satisfactory  way  of  ending  the  discussion. 
Until  then,  we  see  no  reason  for  recalling  a  single  statement  made  by  us. 
7th.  We  do  not  say  that  the  process  offered  in  his  last  paper  will  not  produce 
a  new  acid,  although  we  confess  we  believe  it  doubtful,  and  ask  for  more  evi- 
dence than  physiological  action  and  microscopic  crystals. 
Henry  Trimble. 
Philadelphia  and  San  Antonia,  Texas,  June,  1886.      Herman  J.  Schuchard. 
A  JVew  Caustic  made  of  benzol  and  calomel,  has  proved  useful  in  epitheli- 
oma.  The  pain  is  said  to  be  slight  and  brief. — N.  E.  Med.  Monthly,  May,  1886 . 
i  This  paper  came  to  hand  just  as  we  were  going  to  press— too  late  to  have  it  inserted  among 
the  original  articles. — Editor  Amer.  Jour.  Phar. 
