^"'■jln?''i875r'"'  \  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting,  37 
the  former  too  dear  an  article  to  consume,  could  not  be  ascertained  with  certainty. 
These  specimens  were  accepted  with  thanks.  Prof.  Remington,  on  behalf  of  Messrs. 
Powers  and  Weightman,  presented  a  basket,  consisting  of  a  beautiful  crystallization 
of  copper  sulphate,  coated  with  Damar  varnish,  thus  protecting  the  salt  from  atmos- 
pheric influences.  Messrs.  Wood  &  Denmark,  of  Medford,  N.  J.,  presented  oils  of 
gaultheria  and  solidago. 
A.  P.  Brown  stated  he  had  found  the  market  supply  of  oils  of  Ceylon  cinnamon 
not  of  the  right  quality,  it  being  adulterated  with  oils  of  sassafras  and  cloves.  The 
same  adulteration  has  been  noticed  by  several  of  the  members  present. 
The  library  was  the  recipient  of  the  Chemists''  and  Druggists''  Diary ^  ^875,  pre- 
sented by  the  proprietor  of  the  London  Chemist  and  Druggist. 
Prof.  Maisch  read  a  paper  by  George  W.  Kennedy,  upon  the  occurrence  of  arbu- 
tin  in  Kalmia  latifolia  (see  page  5),  and  remarked  that  this  paper  was  of  much  in- 
terest, he  having  suggested  the  prevalence  of  arbutin  in  many  ericaceous  plants 
[Am.  Jour.  Fhar.,  1874,  p.  314).  Also  a  paper  by  himself  on  substitutions  lately 
found  in  the  market  of  agaric  and  Gossypii  radicis  cortex  (see  page  10).  This 
paper  was  received  with  much  interest,  all  being  surprised  that  the  cotton-root  bark 
of  commerce  was  of  uncertain  origin,  with  one  exception.  Mr.  Blair  had  me- 
fluid  extract  of  cotton-root  bark  only,  which  had  a  deep  brown-red  color,  and,  at 
the  present  time,  was  preparing  an  extract  from  a  root  which  was  different  in  ap- 
pearance from  that  of  Gossypium  herhaceum  or  supposed  Populus  spec,  shown 
here  by  Prof.  Maisch.  He  suggested  that  as  this  was  a  matter  of  general  impor- 
tance, we  use  our  exertions  to  determine  by  comparison  of  our  stocks  and  sources  of 
supply,  which  drug  has  the  properties  ascribed  to  cotton-root.  Prof.  Remington 
said  that  it  was  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  these  two  drugs,  from  different  plants,  had 
identical  properties.  He  had  prepared  a  fluid  extract  by  the  Pharmacopoeia  process, 
which  was  light  in  color,  but  could  not  say  what  was  the  source  of  the  bark  used. 
W.  H.  Walling,  during  a  sojourn  in  the  South,  had  been  told  by  physicians  that 
it  was  the  root  of  the  cotton  plant  they  used.  R.  V.  Mattison  had  prepared  fluid 
extract  of  gossypium,  and  recently,  in  conversation  with  a  manufacturer  of  fluid 
extracts,  was  shown  a  large  bale  of  cotton-root,  which  was  similar  in  appearance  to 
the  specimen  shown  by  Prof.  Maisch,  as  being  probably  the  root  bark  of  a  Populus. 
E.  M,  Boring  had  seen  a  fluid  extract,  light  in  color,  which  deposited  until  very 
little  was  left  in  solution. 
Prof.  Maisch  remarked  that,  in  going  over  the  reports,  he  had  found  no  instance 
in  which  physicians  had  made  experiments  with  cotton-root  bark,  of  the  true  origin 
of  which  they  appeared  to  be  aware. 
A  paper  by  F.  B.  Power,  on  elaterin  (see  page  i),  was  read  by  Prof.  Maisch,  who 
remarked,  that,  as  this  body  is  occasionally  being  prescribed,  this  paper  was  of  more 
practical  importance  than  would  at  first  seem.  These  papers  were  all  accepted  and 
referred  to  the  Publication  Committee. 
A.  W.  Miller,  M.  D.,  stated  that  he  had  received  from  Mr.  Hymer  of  Wallace 
Bros.  &  Stephenson,  Statesville,  N.  C,  the  first  answer  to  the  calls  from  the  Com- 
mittee on  Adulteration  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  In  it,  he 
stated  he  had  found  Monarda  punctata  substituted  by  Pycnanthemum  incanum.  This 
substitution  has  been  noticed  by  Prof.  Maisch  (see  Amer.Jour.  Phar.,  1872,  p.  197). 
