298 
S  mi  lax  Glauca. 
{Am  Jour.  Pharnx. 
June,  1879 
tharidin.  Filtering  through  animal  charcoal  also  failed  to  separate  it. 
In  fact  the  presence  of  cantharidin  was  at  first  doubted  altogether,  as 
there  was  no  appearance  of  crystallization.  It  was,  however,  tested 
by  applying  a  small  quantity  to  the  arm,  and  although  vesication  was  pro- 
duced, it  took  a  much  longer  time  to  produce  the  effect.  It  was  evi- 
dently very  impure. 
The  portion  obtained  from  the  soft  parts  of  the  worm-eaten  variety 
weighed  5*9  grains,  and  that  from  the  hard  parts  of  same  sample  29 
grains.  The  fresh  cantharides  did  not  yield  crystallized  cantharidin^ 
either  by  this  or  by  Procter's  process,  and  it  was,  therefore,  concluded 
that  the  insects  were  really  old,  notwithstanding  their  fresh  and  undam- 
aged appearance. 
In  summing  up  the  results,  the  following  points  are  presented: 
1st.  Old  Mylabris  cichorii  yield  1-25  per  cent.,  and  fresh  Cantharis 
vittata  1*3  per  cent,  of  cantharidin. 
2d.  By  age  the  virtues  of  the  beetles  are  impaired  and  less  effectual 
for  vesication,  and  a  portion  of  what  appears  to  be  fatty  matter  becomes 
insoluble  in  bisulphide  of  carbon,  petroleum  benzin,  etc.,  rendering  the 
isolation  of  cantharidin  much  more  difficult. 
3d.  By  the  treatment  with  hydrate  of  potassium  and  hydrochloric 
acid  the  yield  of  cantharidin  is  increased,  probably  from  the  decompo- 
sition of  ammonium  and  magnesium  compounds  of  cantharidin  con- 
tained in  the  beetles. 
4th.  By  exhaustion  with  petroleum  benzin  a  large  quantity  of  the 
fatty  matter,  but  no  cantharidin,  is  removed,  thus  facilitating  the  subse- 
quent operations. 
SMILAX  GLAUCA. 
By  John  Blankenhorn,  Ph.G. 
[Abstract  from  an  Inaugural  Essay.) 
With  the  view  of  ascertaining  the  constituents  of  the  long  cylindri- 
cal light-colored  rhizome,  a  sample  furnished  by  Prof.  Maisch  was 
submitted  to  the  following  treatment :  Two  pounds  of  the  ground 
rhizome  were  exhausted  by  a  mixture  of  two  parts  alcohol  and  seven 
parts  water,  and  the  percolate  concentrated  at  a  low  temperature.  After 
cooling,  the  whole  was  treated  with  acetate  of  lead  until  no  further  pre- 
cipitate occurred,  then  filtered.  The  filtrate,  thus  deprived  of  nearly 
all  coloring  matter,  was  subjected  to  the  action  of  sulphuretted  hydro- 
