556  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals,  {^nov^is^* 
transformed  into  amyloyd  and  later  into  glucose,  which  is  dissolved  by 
the  filtrate  ;  the  higher  the  temperature  of  the  solutions,  and  the  higher 
the  percentage  of  oxygen  in  the  salts,  the  more  cellulose  is  decomposed 
and  enters  into  solution.  Since  the  formation  of  organized  substances 
is  only  possible  in  the  presence  of  organic  matter,  C.  Bovet  suggests  a 
filter  consisting  of  equal  parts  powdered  asbestos  and  glass-wool  to 
be  used  instead  of  paper;  it  filters  equally  as  well,  and  does  not  con- 
tain organic  matter. — Pharm.  Ztg.,  Sept.  6,  1879,  P-  55°- 
The  Decomposition  of  Digitalis-infusion  is  caused,  in  the  opin- 
ion of  C.  Binz,  by  the  formation  of  mould,  the  latter  depending 
entirely  on  external,  favorable  or  unfavorable,  conditions ;  thus  the 
same  leaves  sometimes  yield  an  infusion  which  keeps  well,  and  at 
other  times  one  which  soon  gelatinizes.  The  author  believes  that  the 
decomposition  is  often  due  to  the  formation  of  pectic  acid. — Ibid., 
Aug.  16,  1879,  p.  506. 
The  Proper  Season  for  Collecting  Digitalis  Leaves. — The 
German  Pharmacopoeia  directs  the  leaves  of  Digitalis  purpurea,  grow- 
ing spontaneously,  to  be  gathered  during  the  period  of  inflorescence,  or, 
•in  other  words,  the  leaves  of  plants  of  the  second  year's  growth,  which 
corresponds  with  the  directions  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.  C.  Bern- 
beck  considers  the  observation  of  these  directions  of  the  greatest 
importance,  having  become  fully  convinced  by  experiments  that  the 
leaves  of  plants  of  the  first  year's  growth,  which  are  usually  the  nicest 
and  largest,  contain  a  much  larger  percentage  of  pectin  and  pectose, 
and  much  less  digitalin  ;  the  author  also  prefers  the  full-grown  stem-  to 
the  lower  young  leaves. — Ibid.,  Aug.  16,  1879,  p.  506. 
Collection  of  Narcotic  Leaves. — According  to  W.  Brandes, 
apothecaries,  taking  particular  pride  in  the  large  size  and  elegant  appear- 
ance of  their  narcotic  leaves,  pay  a  much  higher  price  for  them  than 
for  the  unsightly  small  and  frequently  broken  leaves,  collected  from 
plants  growing  wild  and  in  bloom.  In  order  to  supply  this  demand  the 
wholesale  druggists  are  compelled  to  substitute  the  nicer  leaves  of  cul- 
tivated plants,  which,  as  generally  conceded,  are  far  inferior  in  regard 
to  medicinal  virtues,  but  compare  very  favorably  with  the  former  in 
appearance.  Thus,  efficacy  is  frequently  sacrificed  for  the  sake  of 
elegance. — Ibid.,  Aug.  30,  1879,  p.  540. 
The  stigmas  of  maize  have  recently  attracted  considerable  atten- 
