528  American  Pharmaceutical  Association.    {^^' oct![im!^^^' 
Loco-weed. — Astragalus  moUissimus  is  the  plant  which  in  Kansas  and  other 
localities  is  known  as  loco  weed,  and  which  has  been  believed  to  be  poisonous  to 
horses  and  cattle.  Occasionally  a  similar  plant,  having  a  hair}'  pod — probably 
Astragalus  BigelowU — is  said  to  be  equally  poisonous ;  and  in  certain  localities, 
where  these  species  do  not  grow,  Oxytropis  Lamberti  is  regarded  as  loco-  or  poi- 
son weed.  Professor  Sayre's  investigations,  extending  over  a  period  of  three 
years,  render  it  very  doubtful  whether  these  plants  really  possess  any  poisonous 
properties,  since  chemical  investigation  has  thus  far  failed  to  reveal  the  pres- 
ence of  a  poisonous  principle,  and  the  plant  or  extract  given  to  animals,  or 
taken  by  man,  produced  no  bad  effects.  Occasion  is  taken  in  the  paper  to  point 
out  the  importance  of  scientific  investigation,  and  reference  is  made  to  an  en- 
actment of  Colorado,  offering  a  bounty  of  1 J  cents  for  each  pound  of  loco-weed 
(dried)  dug  up  at  least  three  inches  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  with  the 
view  of  eradicating  it.  About  $200,000  have  thus  far  been  expended  by  the") 
State  for  this  purpose,  and  now  it  seems  probable  that  the  plant  is  harmless,  J 
and  that  the  animals  have  died  from  some  other  cause.  Reference  was  also"'^ 
made  in  the  discussion  on  this  paper  to  different  species  of  Kalmia  and  other 
plants,  which  are  reputed  to  be  poisonous  to  animals,  but  of  whose  deleterious 
effects  satisfactory  evidence  has  not  been  produced.  ' 
Subsequently  a  resolution  was  passed  earnestly  recommending  to  the  legisla- 
tures of  Kansas  and  other  States  in  which  the  loco-weed  grows,  that  they  give 
Professor  Sayre  their  hearty  indorsement  for  support  for  the  further  investiga- 
tion of  the  loco  poison. 
The  Section  discussed  also  the  measures  desirable  for  securing  at  some  future 
time  a  thorough  revision  of  the  National  Formulary,  and  arrived  at  conclusions 
which  were  expressed  by  the  Association  at  its  second  session.  In  regard  to 
the  selection  of  the  committee  for  attending  to  this  work,  on  motion  of  Profes- 
sor Remington,  the  Section  requested  the  President  of  the  Association,  to  ap- 
point five  members  from  the  central  portion  of  the  United  States,  and  one  mem- 
ber from  each  State  Association  to  act  as  a  Committee  on  the  National  Form- 
ulary. Other  resolutions  were  passed  requesting  the  President  to  appoint  a 
committee  to  visit  the  American  Medical  Association  with  the  view  of  getting 
that  body  to  adopt  the  National  Formulary  as  authority  for  all  unofficinal  prep- 
arations contained  therein  ;  also  requesting  the  Permanent  Secretary  to  suggest 
to  each  State  Pharmaceutical  Association  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to 
bring  the  same  subject  before  the  State  Medical  Society. 
Natural  and  Artificial  Spring  Waters  was  the  title  of  a  paper  read  by  Mr.  Enno 
Sander,  who  spoke  also  of  the  attempts  made  by  a  New  York  firm  to  prevent 
the  manufacture  and  sale  of  artificial  Carlsbad  water  and  salt.  Mr.  Hallberg 
offered  a  resolution  declaring  it  to  be  the  right  and  privilege  of  pharmacists  of 
this  country  to  prepare  and  sell  any  preparation  for  which  a  formula  is  con- 
tained in  the  "National  Formulary."^  The  expediency  of  passing  such  a  reso- 
lution was  questioned  by  Messrs.  Sayre  and  Remington,  and  it  was  finally  with- 
drawn. 
Phosphomolybdic  Acid  for  the  quantitative  estimation  of  alkaloids. — Mr.  H.  W. 
Snow  reviewed  the  work  done  by  others,  and  after  himself  going,  experimen- 
I  This  refers  more  particularly  to  formulas  322  and  323  for  Sal  Carolinum  facHHum  and 
Sal  Carol,  fact.  effervescens.—Ei^xtox. 
