552 
Euphorbia  Pilulifera. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1888. 
ADULTERATION  OF  GROUND  ELM  BARK. 
By  George  M.  Beringer,  Ph.  G. 
Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting,  October  16th. 
Having  had  occasion  recently  to  examine  several  samples  of  ground 
and  pulverized  elm  bark,  which  were  offered  in  quantity,  I  was  con- 
vinced from  pliysical  qualities,  odor,  taste  and  lack  of  mucilage,  that 
two  samples — one  pulverized,  the  other  ground — offered  by  the  same 
party,  were  largely  adulterated.  Surmising  that  the  adulterant  was 
grain  of  some  kind,  most  likely  corn,  ground  up  with  the  bark ;  the 
smallest  quantity  of  these  samples  boiled  with  distilled  water  gave 
with  iodine  an  abundant  reaction  for  starch.  Pure  elm  bark  {liber 
alone)  should  be  free  from  starch. 
Mr.  Charles  Bullock  examined  the  specimen  microscopically  and 
detected  both  corn  and  potato"  starch.  The  potatoes  were  likely  sliced 
and  dried,  and  then  ground  up  with  the  bark. 
The  following  simple  test  would  show  the  deficiency  of  mucilage  in 
ground  elm,  and  the  likelihood  of  adulteration.  Ten  (10)  grains  of 
pure  ground  or  pulverized  elm  bark,  thoroughly  shaken  with  one 
fluidounce  of  water,  will  in  fifteen  (15)  minutes  form  a  thick  jelly-like 
mass  of  a  good  fawn  color. 
From  the  source  from  which  these  samples  were  produced,  I  have 
no  doubt  that  a  large  quantity  of  such  adulterated  elm  is  in  the 
market. 
EUPHORBIA  PILULIFERA. 
By  James  Hicks  Bunting,  Ph.  G. 
Abstract  from  a  Thesis. 
Euphorbia  pilulifera  is  an  annual  herbaceous  plant,  thriving  in  all 
soils,  and  grows  abundantly  in  the  gardens  and  streets  of  the  towns  of 
tropical  countries.  It  has  been  used  to  some  extent  in  the  form  of 
decoction  and  fluid  extract  in  asthma  and  bronchitis  ;  also  in  neuralgia 
in  conjunction  with  allied  remedies.  The  freshly  bruised  leaves  ap- 
plied over  a  snake-bite,  not  only  assuage  the  pain,  but  are  said  to  re- 
move the  venom  and  heal  the  wound.  A  pinch  of  the  dried  powder, 
taken  in  some  convenient  menstruum,  excites  the  heart  and  arouses 
the  vital  forces  depressed  by  the  poison. 
An  analysis  was  made  of  the  drug  in  the  chemical  laboratory  of 
