Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 1 
Jan.,  1879.  J 
Contributions  from  Tokio. 
2S 
leaves  and  ergot,  and  in  a  mixture  of  sausage,  bread-crusts,  vegetables, 
brown  sauce  and  ergot. — Pharm.  Ztg.,  1878,  No.  84. 
Effect  of  Ergot  on  Musk. — E.  Biltz  states  that  the  odor  of  musk 
can  be  entirely  removed  from  the  hands  by  rubbing  with  powdered 
ergot  mixed  with  warm  water. — Pharm.  Centralh.,  Oct.  10,  p.  389. 
Laforest's  Lotion  Cosmetique. — This  nostrum  is  recommended 
for  dyeing  the  hair  black,  and  consists  of  360  grams  of  red  wine,  4 
grams  chloride  of  sodium,  7  grams  sulphate  of  iron  and  4  grams  oxide 
of  copper,  which  are  heated  together  for  a  short  time,  when  7  grams 
of  powdered  nutgalls  are  added.  This  mixture  is  rubbed  on  the  hair, 
then  rubbed  off  with  a  warm  cloth,  and  the  hair  washed  with  water. 
— Ztschr.  d.  Oest.  Ap.  Ver.,  Sept.  1,  1878,  p.  408. 
CONTRIBUTIONS  from  the  PHARMACEUTICAL  LABOR- 
ATORY at  TOKIO,  JAPAN. 
By  Dr.  G.  Martin. 
The  Seeds  of  Camellia  japonica,  which  are  considered  poisonous 
by  the  Japanese,  were  analyzed  by  Katzujama  and  found  to  contain  a 
blueish- white,  bitter,  slightly  crystalline  principle,  called  Camellin  by  the 
author,  which  is  scarcely  soluble  in  cold  water  and  ether,  more  so  in 
hot  water,  very  soluble  in  alcohol,  and  which,  after  boiling  with  dilute 
sulphuric  acid,  reduces  alkaline  copper  solutions.  It  turns  yellow  on 
the  addition  of  alkalies,  red  with  a  mixture  of  much  H2S04  with  a 
little  HNO3,  and  greatly  resembles  digitalin  in  its  behavior  towards 
phosphoric  acid  ;  its  constitution  isC53H84019.  The  seeds  also  contain 
tannic  acid  and  a  thick  semi-solid  fixed  oil,  possessing  an  acrid 
unpleasant  taste.  It  was  formerly  used  for  oiling  the  swords  of 
Japanese  soldiers. 
Pseonia  Moutan. — The  root,  which  is  often  prescribed  by  Japanese 
physicians,  was  analyzed  by  Iagi,  who  obtained  by  extraction  with 
ether  and  spontaneous  evaporation  a  crop  of  shining  white  aromatic 
needles,  melting  at  45°C,  sublimable  at  a  higher  temperature,  insol- 
uble in  cold  water,  very  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether,  and  precipitated 
from  an  alcoholic  solution  in  crystals  by  a  large  quantity  of  water. 
From  alcohol  it  crystallizes  on  spontaneous  evaporation  in  prisms  5  to  15 
mm.  in  length.  An  analysis  seems  to  prove  this  crystalline  substance  a 
fatty  acid,  allied  to  caprinic  acid,  but  having  a  higher  melting  point. 
