Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Oct.,  1886. 
Ulexine  in  Ulex  Europceus. 
489 
the  narrower  tube,  and  the  tubes  are  then  connected  above  and  below 
with  each  other  by  two  glass  tubes,  the  upper  one  being  the  widest 
and  being  attached  somewhat  slanting.  The  apparatus  is  then  filled 
with  water  or  some  other  liquid,  so  as  to  almost  fill  the  upper  connect- 
ing tube ;  a  thermometer,  with  the  subject  under  examination  in  a 
fine  glass  tube,  is  then  adjusted  so  that  the  bulb  of  the  thermometer 
is  in  the  bulb  of  the  apparatus.  The  liquid  in  the  apparatus  is  then 
heated  gradually  in  the  wide,  upright  glass  tube. 
Authors  differ  very  much  in  regard  as  to  which  point  shall  betaken  as 
the  melting  point.  F.  Eudorff  (Pogg.  Ann.,  1870,  cxl,420)  holds  that 
the  congealing  and  melting  points  are  identical,  and  that  the  tempera- 
ture at  which  the  substance  congeals  shall  be  regarded  as  the  melting 
point.  Other  authors  opposed  to  the  foregoing,  hold  that  the  congeal- 
ing and  melting  points  of  certain  bodies  are  at  different  temperatures. 
In  conclusion,  I  would  like  to  make  a  few  remarks  as  to  the  value 
of  the  melting  points  given  in  the  Pharmacopoeia.  Melting  points 
should  not  be  given  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  except  in  such  cases  where 
they  are  necessary  for  establishing  the  quality  of  medicinal  articles, 
for  example,  acidum  aceticum  glaciale,  oleum  theobromse,  petrolatum, 
etc;  the  melting  points  of  the  various  alkaloids  and  several  other 
articles  not  being  useful  for  this  purpose,  are  entirely  out  of  place.  The 
Pharmacopoeia  should  state  the  general  effect  of  heat  if  characteristic 
for  the  drug ;  but  it  should  only  contain  such  melting  points  as  will 
be  necessary  for  testing  the  purity  of  the  material,  and  all  the  rest 
should  be  left  where  they  belong,  viz,  the  text  books. 
ULEXINE.    A  NEW  BASE  FEOM  ULEX  EUEOP^EUS. 
By  A.  W.  Gerrard,  f.c.s., 
Teacher  of  Pharmacy,  University  College. 
One  of  the  most  familiar  plants  in  England  is  the  leguminous  shrub 
known  to  botanists  as  TJlex  europceus,  and  to  the  country  folk  by  the 
names  furze,  gorse,  whin,  etc.  It  is  conspicuous  on  commons  and 
roadsides,  and  is  well  known  by  its  spiny  branches  and  bright  yellow 
flowers,  either  solitary  or  in  pairs,  situated  on  the  spines. 
The  economic  uses  of  the  plant  do  not  seem  to  be  important.  It 
is  chiefly  grown  to  provide  shelter  for  young  trees  or  cover  for  game; 
in  some  parts  of  the  country  the  young  tops  are  gathered  and  bruised 
as  fodder  for  cattle.  The  seeds,  which  are  an  article  of  commerce,  re- 
cently attracted  my  attention. 
