s and trees, many of
them hardy. I mention the herbaceous _Baptisia australis_, several hardy
perennial peas, such as _Lathyrus sylvestria_, _L. maritimus_ etc.,
_Caragrana_ the pea tree, and species of _Robinia_, _Cercis_;
_Cymocladus_ and _Wistaria_. A collection of these, with as many more as
one might wish, would be a fascinating group in which to spend hours
with brush and forceps.

3. All over America thousands of "tired business men," and school boys
who ought to be tending to their baseball, have to spend weekends and
holidays pushing lawn-mowers. If an acceptable ground cover could be
found that would have to be mowed only half as often, or one quarter as
often, or maybe only once a year, or even (glory be) not at all, what a
saving of time it would be for good healthy sport and non-depressing
exercise.

There are many promising plants. _Pachysandra_ and _Vinca_, don't quite
fill the bill but have their good points, such as growing in the shade.
There is a little round-leafed plant common in Florida and, apparently,
found in the north. There are many plants that could be grown
experimentally in patches a yard square. Why have we so tamely limited
ourselves to grasses and clover? What a chance for a man to immortalize
himself by discovering variants for grasses and clover for lawns and
thus become a benefactor to millions of lawn-mower slaves!

[Footnote 31: (_See letter from the American Medical Association on next
page.--Ed._)]

COUNCIL ON PHARMACY AND CHEMISTRY

of the

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Office of the Secretary,
535 N. Dearborn Street, Chicago 10, Illinois

January 5, 1949

Doctor W. C. Deming
31 South Highland Street
West Hartford, Connecticut

Dear Doctor Deming:

This is in reply to your inquiry of December 28, 1948, regarding the
toxicity of horse chestnuts.

All six of the species of Aesculus which are native to the United States
have been reported as poisonous, but specific references in the
literature are infrequent. The species Aesculus hippocastanum has been
studied and has been found to contain saponin, tannin, and the
glycoside, esculin. Esculin is used in patent remedies in the form of
ointments and pastes to protect the skin from sunburn. The saponin seems
to be the toxic component.

Fruit of the horse chestnut is rich in starch and oil and is a _valuable
food for livestock_. The bitter taste of the nut is removed by alcohol
extraction