It must not be supposed that no syntheses of alkaloids have been effected as yet. By heating butyl-aldehyde with alcoholic ammonia is formed _paraconine_, an alkaloid isomeric with the natural conine, but differing in physiological action. By the action of sodium upon pyridine is produced a compound C_{10}H_{8}N_{2}, known as dipyridyl, and this, under the influence of nascent hydrogen, takes up six atoms and becomes _isonicotine_ C_{10}H_{14}N_{2}, a physiologically active alkaloid, isomeric with the true nicotine. The formation of a series of alkaloids under the name of _codeines_, by the substitution of other organic radicals instead of methyl in the codeine reaction, has already been alluded to. _Atropine_ can be formed by uniting tropine and tropic acid, the two decomposition products already noted. The latter of these products is already shown to be capable of synthetical formation, and the other will no doubt be formed in the same way. The artificial atropine is identical with the natural alkaloid. Ladenburg has also formed a series of artificial alkaloids, called _tropeines_, by uniting the base tropine with different organic acids, as in the case of the compound of mandelic acid and tropine, known as _homatropine_, an alkaloid of action similar to atropine, but possessing some decided advantages in its use. _Piperine_ has also been made by the uniting of piperidine and piperic acid, and, as piperidine has already been formed from pyridine, we have here a true synthesis also. Both _theobromine_ and _caffeine_, its methyl derivative, have been made from xanthine, which itself can be formed from guanine, a constituent of guano. We may conclude from this reference to what has been done in the last few years, that the reproach mentioned in first speaking of the alkaloids as a class, that almost nothing was known of their constitution, will not long remain, and that as their molecular structure is laid bare in these studies now being made, keen-sighted chemists will effect their artificial formation. When these most valuable compounds can be made by exact methods, in a state of entire purity, and at a cost much below that paid for the present extraction of them from relatively rare plants, organic chemistry will have placed all of us under obligations as great as those owing any branch of science, no matter how practical we call it.--_Amer. Jour. of Pharmacy_. * * * * * ON THE TREATMENT OF CONGESTIVE HEADACHE. By J. LEONARD CORNING, M.D., New York.