Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  "i 
February,  1919.  -* 
Hyoscyamus  Niger. 
8.1 
On  comparing  the  results  as  presented  in  tables  nos.  9  and  10, 
it  is  apparent  that  as  the  leaves,  stems  and  roots  mature  and  become 
dry,  the  percentage  of  alkaloid  in  these  parts  is  very  much  less  than 
when  these  parts  are  green.  While  we  cannot  make  an  absolute 
comparison  of  the  results  in  these  two  cases  as  the  parts  of  different 
plants  were  employed  in  the  second  than  in  the  first  case,  neverthe- 
less, this  difference  is  so  marked  that  we  are  quite  safe  in  making 
the  above  assertion.  It  seems  quite  remarkable  that  the  alkaloid 
content  of  the  leaves,  which  were  collected  after  the  seed  pods  had 
been  harvested  and  the  mature  seed  utilized  as  such,  would  be  so 
great,  as  in  no  case  was  the  alkaloid  content  much  below  the  U.  S. 
P.  requirement.  Upon  studying  the  results  of  samples  nos.  4,  5  and 
6,  it  is  seen  that  these  are  slightly  lower  than  the  results  of  the 
analysis  of  the  corresponding  leaves  of  samples  nos.  1,  2  and  3, 
respectively..  The  sample  of  roots,  no.  7,  contained  a  very  high 
percentage  of  alkaloids,  which  would  indicate  that  the  roots  of 
hyoscyamus  can  be  utilized  even  after  the  leaves  and  stems  have 
matured  and  dried.  Can  the  leaves,  stems,  and  roots  of  Hyoscyamus 
niger  be  utilized  for  commercial  drug  purposes  when  they  are  dry 
(have  lost  all  the  green  coloring  matter),  and  after  the  seed  has 
matured  and  has  been  harvested?  If  the  total  mydriatic  alkaloid 
content  is  a  criterian,  we  would  say,  that  using  the  above  figures  as 
the  basis  of  our  information,  that  it  would  be  impractical  to  use  the 
dry  and  dead  parts  of  these  plants  alone. 
Summary. 
From  the  data  herein  presented,  we  can  summarize  as  follows : 
1.  If  the  seed  of  the  annual  variety  of  Hyoscyamus  niger  is 
viable,  90  per  cent,  of  the  viable  seed  will  germinate  in  from  9  to 
11  days. 
2.  Sterilizing  the  soil,  when  using  this  as  a  medium  in  which  to 
test  the  viability  of  hyoscyamus  seeds,  increases  the  percentage  oi 
germination  250  to  400  per  cent,  above  the  germination  produced  in 
unsterile  soil. 
3.  Freezing  the  moist  seeds  at  — 120  C.  for  four  hours,  slightly 
increased  the  percentage  of  germination.  Treating  them  with  con- 
centrated sulphuric  acid  did  not  increase  the  percentage  ol 
germination. 
4.  Applying  a  complete  fertilizer  of  1,000  lbs.  of  calcium  car- 
