1 1 8 
Carya  Tomentosa. 
/  Am.  Jour.  Pharm- 
t       Mar.,  1879. 
proves  that  the  crystals  viewed  by  a  low  power  are  imbedded  in  their 
natural  position  even  in  the  dense  guaiacum  wood.  They  may  be  seen 
by  dusting  the  powder  into  a  little  water,  picking  out  the  woody  par- 
ticles and  examining  the  residue,  and  by  the  same  manipulation  they 
may  be  found  in  the  borage,  hydrastis,  matico,  chiretta  and  other 
plants. 
Should  we  wish,  for  example,  to  satisfy  ourselves  whether  a  given 
specimen  of  pulverized  cinchona  bark  is  adulterated  or  not,  we  first 
examine  a  thin  layer  of  the  perfect  bark  under  the  lens  and  ascertain 
the  exact  appearance  of  the  crystals  therein.  Then  we  place  some  of 
the  finely  ground  bark  under  the  instrument,  and  if  the  crystals  are 
identical  with  those  in  the  perfect  specimen,  we  may  decide  the  former 
to  be  genuine.  If  other  crystals  are  found,  the  testimony  is  strongly  in 
favor  of  adulteration.  This  test,  with  another  which  consists  in  the 
investigation  of  the  ultimate  structure  of  barks,  leaves,  roots,  will 
enable  the  pharmacist  to  avoid  imposition  by  adulterated  drugs. 
The  examination  of  the  sediments  of  our  tinctures  show  crystals, 
and  that  of  water  the  presence  of  animalculae  and  spores  of  fungi, 
which  are  capable  of  contaminating  other  fluids  and  starting  decompo- 
sition in  many  of  our  flavored  waters  and  pharmiceutical  preparations. 
The  pharmacist  who  takes  up  the  subject  will  find  his  pharmacy  a 
vast  store-house  of  endless  pleasure  and  information  to  dispel  his  long, 
business  hours. 
THE  BARK  OF  CARYA  TOMENTOSA,  Nuttall. 
By  Frank  R.  Smith,  Ph.G. 
Abstract  from  a  thesis  presented  to  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy. 
In  examining  hickory  bark,  collected  by  himself,  the  author  succeeded 
in  isolating  a  crystalline  principle  for  which  he  proposes  the  name 
caryin,  but  states  that  it  is  identical  with  quercitrin.  It  was  obtained  in 
the  following  manner  :  • 
An  infusion  of  the  bark  was  treated  with  solution  of  lead  acetate  as 
long  as  a  precipitate  was  produced  ;  the  precipitate  was  well  washed 
with  water,  then  suspended  in  water  and  the  liquid  saturated  with 
sulphydric  acid.  The  sulphide  of  lead  was  removed  by  filtration  and  after 
standing  for  about  twelve  hours,  the  clear  filtrate  was  of  a  yellow  color 
