H. C. Wood, Jr. (Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1916, p. 160), says of gelsemium: “Gelsemium was originally employed as an arterial sedative and febrifuge in the malarial fevers of the South, and subsequently in sthenic fevers. It appears in some way to depress the bodily temperature, but it does not appear probable that any advantage to be derived from it will counterbalance the danger attending its employment in the large doses required. In asthma, spasmodic laryngitis, whooping cough, and nervous cough it has been recommended by Bartholow, but is little used.” That is about as favorable a statement for the drug as is to be found in the textbooks, and it serves to illustrate how little new there is in this mixture of obsolete drugs that Merrell seeks to market as one possessing extraordinary therapeutic value. Even though the ingredients, or certain of them, were singly useful in the treatment of those conditions for which Casta-Flora is recommended, no one could possibly foresee the effect in any given case of such a jumble of drugs, both active and inert, as is said to be represented in this preparation. The prescribing of such mixtures, the action of which cannot in any way be foreseen, is plain charlatanism. In addition, the various drugs in Casta-Flora are present in such proportions that the dose of each of the several ingredients bears no relation to the commonly accepted dose. Casta-Flora is not acceptable for New and Nonofficial Remedies.--(_From The Journal A. M. A., Jan. 27, 1917._) FIRWEIN Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry Firwein is a product of The Tilden Company, New Lebanon, N. Y. It is sold under the claim that when swallowed it has a “predilection” both for the bronchial mucosa and also for the genito-urinary organs. To quote: “Expectorant, Sedative, Antispasmodic in the Treatment of Inflammations of the Bronchial and Genito-Urinary Mucosæ.” “Firwein being a bland, soothing balsam possesses a wide range of adaptability and increased potency because of its healing virtues and usefulness as an expectorant, sedative and antispasmodic in bronchitis, and inflammation and catarrh of nose, throat and lungs.” “Firwein has a special predilection for mucosæ, this being as marked in diseases of the genito-urinary system as it is in the respiratory organs. In inflammatory diseases of the genito-urinary organs, its bland, curative properties are exerted in a gratifying degree. In cystitis and uritis it is clearly indicated....” Little information is given concerning the composition of Firwein. An old circular says: “Firwein contains Phosphorus, Iodin and Bromin finely blended with a balsameous elixir made from the fir tree.” From a more recent circular we quote: “Firwein is prepared from the inside fresh green bark of the fir tree ...” The label on the product reads: