Am.  Jour.  Pharm  > 
Dec,  1879.  J 
Fucus  Vesiculosus. 
609 
regions,  not  only  of  many  parts  of  Australia,  but  also  Southern  Asia 
and  Polynesia,  and  I  have  seen  also  specimens  from  Valdivia.  The 
third  species  is  Centipeda  thespidioides  (F. V.  M.),  which  belongs  to  the 
desert  regions  of  the  interior,  restricted,  however,  to  localities  where 
some  humidity  exists.  In  their  sternutatorian  properties  these  herbs 
remind  me  of  Arnica  montana,  and  probably  they  may  share  also  in  the 
medicinal  effects  of  the  last-mentioned  plant  by  acting  as  stimulants  on 
the  nervous  and  muscular  system,  although  the  latter  belongs  to  the 
tribe  of  Senecionidae,  not  of  Anthemidae,  among  Compositae.  The 
medicinal  properties  of  the  centipedas  rest  on  a  volatile  oil  which  has 
never  yet  been  examined,  and  on  a  peculiar  acid  (found  out  by  .Mr. 
Remmel  and  myself),  myriogynic  acid,  allied  to  santonic  from  Arte- 
misia cina  (Berg),  and,  perhaps,  allied  species.  Although  centipeda  is 
not  closely  allied  to  the  genus  Artemisia  in  the  tribe  Anthemidae, 
myriogynic  acid  is  obtainable  by  treating  the  aqueous  extract  of  the 
herb  with  alcohol,  evaporation  of  the  tincture,  redissolving  in  water, 
which  is  rendered  slightly  alkaline  with  ammonia,  subsequent  acidifica- 
tion with  hydrochloric  acid,  shaking  with  ether,  evaporation  of  the 
ethereal  solution,  ablution  of  the  remaining  myriogynic  acid  with  cold 
water.  It  constitutes  a  yellowish  or  browish  brittle  mass  of  acid  reac- 
tion and  bitter  taste,  sparingly  soluble  in  cold  water,  easier  in  boiling 
water,  very  easily  in  alcohol,  less  easy  in  ether,  readily  also  in  alkaline 
solutions;  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  dissolves  it  with  a  red-brown 
color,  in  which  solution  a  precipitate  is  produced  by  admixture  of  water; 
concentrated  nitric  acid  dissolves  myriogynic  acid  with  yellow  color  ; 
hydrochloric  acid  exercises  no  effect  on  it.  I  exhibited  snuff  prepared 
from  the  myriogynes  merely  by  pounding  the  herb,  in  one  of  the  inter- 
colonial exhibitions  many  years  ago. — Australian  Chemist  and  Druggist, 
Aug.,  1879. 
FUCUS  VESICULOSUS. 
The  subject  of  obesity  and  its  treatment  has  of  late  years  received 
much  attention,  both  from  doctors  and  their  patients.  The  interest 
excited  by  the  appearance  of  Mr.  Banting's  Letter  on  Corpulence  will 
not  be  readily  forgotten.  The  medicinal  agents  most  commonly 
employed  in'  the  treatment  of  this  condition  are  acids,  chiefly  in  the 
form  of  lemon  juice  and  vinegar,  strong  alkalies  and  iodide  of  potassium. 
38 
