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Prize Essay.

Brief, bright essays on subjects of interest to pharmacists are invited for the Prize Essay Department of the "American Druggist." For every article printed, long or short, the "American Druggist" will fortnightly pay $5.00.

DISPLAYING CHEMICAL

GLASSWARE.

BY FRED W. CHANDLER,

Machias, Me..

THINK that perhaps an account of a novel window display which we used some time since will be as interesting to pharmacists as it was to the general public where it was exhibited. The primary object was to display and sell chemical glassware. The window was dressed with graduates, funnels, beakers, flasks, rubber tubing and all the other apparatus that is usually sold in a pharmacy.

Along the centre of the window was placed a glass shelf supported about eight inches from the base of the window. At the left, higher up, was a gas jet, and to this was attached a rubber tube carried down and fastened to a Bunsen burner. But the gas was not lighted. Directly over the burner was suspended on a retort stand a large tabulated glass retort. The opening in the retort was closed with a rubber stopper through which was

small faucet at the bottom. The connections were all made tight and when the faucet was opened air was drawn through the thistle tube in the retort, through all the flasks, down into the can in the cellar. This arrangement will furnish a steady stream of bubbles for from six to eight hours, when the can may be easily filled again.

We used this display one week in our window and all the time there was a constant, ever-changing crowd in front of the store. It was the talk of the town and people really believed that the process of distillation was actually going on. There is no doubt but that it will prove a good ad for anyone who will try it.

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WINDOW DISPLAY OF

passed a small glass thistle tube, the end of which extended nearly to the bottom of the retort. The beak of the retort was plugged with a rubber stopper having a glass tube passing through it.

By means of glass and rubber tubingas shown in the sketch-four chemical flasks half full or more of colored liquid were connected together. The first flask had a red liquid, the second a milky white, the third a blue, and the fourth contained clear water. The rubber tube from the right hand end flask was carried down cellar and was slipped over the end of a piece of glass tubing which passed through the stopper of an old ten-gallon can filled with water and fitted with a

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CHEMICAL GLASSWARE.

ferent samples submitted. It was suggested that this difference might be due to some

derived from a hitherto unused source. It is difficult to determine from the character of the finished product whether or not commercial vanillin is obtained from some other material than eugenol, the only possible clue being the presence of some associated impurity. A trace of chlorine, for instance, might be taken as indicating the use of a synthetic instead of a natural benzoic acid, but the determination of this point would require very extensive research.

A number of patents have been granted for the manufacture of vanillin, a recent one utilizing heliotropine as its source, but to what extent some of these patents are used is not difficult to guess.

The melting point furnishes the best single test for the purity of many organic compounds, since in a pure article this figure is absolutely constant and is easily

affected by the admixture of foreign substances. Such an addition, however, may be made so skillfully as to leave the melting point undisturbed, though whether this can be done in the case of vanillin or not the writer is not prepared to say. It appears that there is some difference of opinion as to what is the exact melting point of pure vanillin, for it is recorded at temperatures ranging from 79° to 83° C. There certainly cannot be a variation of 4° and there is no doubt that some of the figures observed were based upon work with impure materials.

Welmans' prepared a pure product by recrystallization from alcohol and found it to possess a melting point of 83' C. (Corrected or not?) He is of the opinion that the melting point of the commercial article should not fall below 82° C.

The table printed below contains the melting points, taken in a capillary tube, and other data drawn from a study of the samples submitted.

The congealing points of the samples submitted vary to a greater degree than the melting points. The writer has been unable to find any published information on this head. The congealing point was determined in the following manner: After taking the melting point, the bath was allowed to cool slowly, and the temperature at which the melted vanillin became opaque was recorded as the conIt was observed that gealing point. when the liquid capillary column was interrupted by air spaces, the congealing point of the lower portion of the column was much lower than that of the upper portion. The congealing point of this portion of number three was 59° C.

The melting points of the samples agree very closely with the standard laid down by Welmans, especially if the 82° C. is uncorrected. The uncorrected melting points of the samples are on the average about 0.6° higher. This would bring all above 82° C., excepting number three.

The melting point of an article of this

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of its purity, especially when other methods are available. The value of sodium bisulphite for estimating vanillin, as applied by R. Hefelmann2, is well known, being based on the fact that vanillin as an aldehyde combines with a primary alkaline sulphite, forming a compound which is insoluble in ether, but is soluble in the sodium bisulphite solution. The method used for detecting acetanilid in vanillin is, briefly, as follows: Place a weighed quantity of the suspected vanillin in a separatory funnel, add a suitable quantity of ether to completely dissolve the vanillin, then repeatedly shake out this ethereal solution, with a concentrated solution of sodium bisulphite. This removes the vanillin from the ethereal solution, but leaves the acetanilid intact. To identify the acetanilid evaporate the ether, take the melting point of the residue; liberate aniline with a 15 per cent sodium hydroxide solution; apply the isonitril test, etc. The vanillin is removed from the sodium bisulphite solution by the conventional method for estimating aldehydes. There are more recent and, in the writer's experience, better methods than the above. The method recently published by W. H. Hess and A. B. Prescott has given the writer good results. The process as applied by the writer of this article is as follows: Introduce into a 100 Cc. separatory funnel about 0.5 Gm. of the vanillin, add 20 Cc. of stronger ether, rotate until the vanillin is dissolved, then add 5 Cc. of 10 per cent ammonia water; agitate well and, after complete separation, remove the ammoniacal layer to a second separatory funnel. Shake out twice more with 3 Cc. of 10 per cent ammonia water and finally with 2 Cc. of water, placing each removal into the second separatory funnel.

The ether contains all of the ether-soluble substances, which may be coumarin, acetanilid, etc. These can be estimated by transferring the ether into a tared capsule, washing the separatory funnel with an additional portion of ether, transferring it also to the capsule and evaporating the whole at about 40° C., to constant weight.

The ammoniacal mixture in the second separatory contains the vanillin, which is removed, by rendering slightly acid with 10 per cent hydrochloric acid, shaking out with chloroform or ether and evaporating as directed for the ether above. The gravimetric results, in the above table, were obtained by this process.

It is necessary in this connection to call attention to a class of adulterants which might be advantageously employed to vitiate the latter method. Suppose benzoic acid was present. This acid is soluble in ether. On adding the ammonia water, ammonium benzoate is formed, which is nearly insoluble in ether, but is soluble in the ammonia water. The benzoic acid is therefore removed with the vanillin, in the ammoniacal liquid. On rendering the alkaline mixture acid, the benzoic acid is liberated and being freely soluble in chloroform and ether and to some extent even in benzin and rigoline, will be removed and weighed as vanillin. It is consequently necessary to examine the residue left on evaporating the above sol

vents.

Welmans devised a volumetric method

(2) Apoth. Zeit., 1898, No. 49, p. 420; Pharm. Zeit., 1898, No. 54, p. 480.

(3) 1899, Pharm. Review, 17, 7; Am. Druggist, 34, 8. (4) 1898, Pharm. Ztg., 43, 434.

the

for estimating vanillin, based on well-known property of vanillin, as a phenol, to form salts with one equivalent of base. Into a 200 Cc. glass-stoppered flask place 1 Gm. of the vanillin, add 25 Cc. of alcohol, 25 Cc. of semi-normal alcoholic potash and two or three drops of phenolphthalein. Insert stopple and shake until complete solution results. Then retitrate the excess of alkali by means of a semi-normal hydrochloric acid solution. The volumetric results, in the above table, were obtained by this pro

cess.

The normal factor of vanillin is 0.152 or 1 Gm. requires for complete neutralization 6.58 Cc. of normal alcoholic potash or 0.36842 of a gramme of potassium hydroxide.

The amount of vanillin in "Vanillin Sugar" or mixtures containing acetanilid, coumarin, etc., can be estimated without first isolating the vanillin. The analyst must, however, assure himself before applying this test to a mixture, that the mixture does not contain any acids or substances that will combine with the caustic alkali.

It is only necessary to say in conclusion that all of the above samples were of fair commercial quality. Some of them may have contained a small amount of vanillic acid, since it is liable to be pressent in small amounts, but is difficult to estimate.

Laboratory, Smith, Kline & French Co., Philadelphia.

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For sores, burns, chafed or chapped skin, etc. Useful for tourists, bicyclists, riders, athletes.

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Make a mucilage of the quince seed by macerating in the water; strain, add the glycerin and perfume to taste.

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Mix the stearin, glycerin, water and potassium carbonate and boil until clear, which will require about 2 hours. As soon as the glycerin begins to evaporate, which can be detected by the fumes, add 1 pint of hot water and stir the mass until cool. When cool stir in the remaining ingredients.

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Mix and macerate for 24

and add

Tincture benzoin.

Oil neroli..

Oil bitter almond..

8 ounces.

3 ounces.

M. S. A.

2 ounces.

2 drops.

4 drops.

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Melt the cetaceum and oil together; add the curd soap and continue the heat until uniform; then transfer to a warm mortar and add gradually about an ounce of the rosewater boiling. Beat up the almonds well in another mortar and add the melted cetaceum to this paste. Mix thoroughly and stir in the remainder of the hot rosewater to form an emulsion. To this add the oils dissolved in the alcohol and tincture, strain through fine calico, and make up to 10 ounces with rosewater passed through the material on strainer.

BENZOINATED CREAM.

Benzoinated lard..

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the

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8 drams.

3 drams.

.18 drams.

4 drams.

..13 drams.

5 grains.

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Triturate together the lanolin, yolk of egg and formaldehyde; then gradually add the milk.

GELEE D'HAMAMELIS.
Gum tragacanth, in pieces..... 4 ounces.
Glycerin.
.15 ounces.
Alcohol
.20 ounces.
Witchhazel extract, distilled...20 ounces.

Soak the gum in 80 ounces of water for forty-eight hours, stirring frequently, add the rest of the ingredients, and make up to 10 pints with water; then press through cheese cloth, and perfume with otto of rose, heliotropin, or any other scent.

Put up in collapsible tubes, this makes a good selling specialty for use after shaving, and is a remedy for chaps, sunburns, roughness of skin, etc.

GLYCERIN AND HONEY JELLY.
1 dram.
drams.

Soft soap...

Glycerin

California honey.

Almond oil..

Olive oil.

PASTE FOR REMOVING BLACKHEADS.

The application at night of a paste composed of the following ingredients is recommended by dermatologists.

Precipitated sulphur.....
Green soap..
Precipitated chalk.
Zinc ointment...

1

dram.

1 dram.

11⁄2 dram.

1

ounce.

After keeping the skin well covered with this during the night, most of the blackheads may be washed out in the morning.

Another paste, which has been used with good results, is the formula of Prof. Unna, the eminent German dermatologist. It has the following composition.

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Apply in the same manner as directed in the preceding formula.

DEPILATORY CREAM.

A depilatory cream which is used largely in the New York hospitals for the removal of hair from the skin previous to operations has the following formula: Barium sulphide..

Starch

Water

3 parts. 1 part. q. s.

The mixed powders are to be made into a paste with water, and applied in a moderately thick layer to the parts to be denuded of hairs, the excess of the latter having been previously trimmed off with a pair of scissors. From time to time a small part of the surface should be examined, and when it is seen that the hair can be removed the mass should be washed off.

The barium sulphide should be quite fresh. It can be prepared by making bariu sulphate and its own weight of charcoal into a paste with linseed oil, rolling the paste into the shape of a sausage, and placing it on a bright fire to incinerate. When it has ceased to burn, and is a white hot mass, remove from the fire, cool and powder.

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Dissolve the oils in the alcohol, add the fluid extract and glycerin, and finally the

water.

(To be continued.)

THE PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE Japan Wax as a Substitute for Beeswax in the

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on

Considering the number and importance of the subjects presented, the present series of meetings bids fair to go record as one of the most successful ever held; and the recent meeting was no exception to the rule, there being no less than six papers read. F. W. E. Stedem called attention to

Shorter Methods for the Preparation of Pharmacopoeial Products,

saying that most of the processes which he outlined had been in use for years, and that they bore the stamp of approval of the best pharmacists of the land. He first considered some of the tinctures of the Pharmacopoeia. Tincture of asafetida was recommended to be prepared by percolation instead of by maceration and filtration. The difficulties attending the making of tincture of calumba may be obviated by using a carefully prepared No. 20 powder, and observing the precaution to loosely pack the drug and not to moisten it previous to packing as officially directed. Tincture of guaiac and ammoniated tincture of guaiac were recommended to be prepared by reducing a selected resin to a fine powder in a mortar, adding the menstruum gradually, triturating constantly, and subsequently filtering and adding enough menstruum to make the desired quantity. The whole operation was said not to need more than two or three hours and the results were otherwise entirely satisfactory.

A process for tincture of iodine was as follows: Reduce the iodine to a uniform coarse powder. Press a plug of absorbent cotton tightly into the neck of a glass funnel and lay over this an evenly cut piece of white filter paper. Introduce the iodine into the funnel and add alcohol carefully. If the iodine is not all dissolved by the first treatment with the required amount of alcohol, the weak tincture may be applied till the complete solution of the iodine is effected.

For the preparation of tincture of myrrh and other resinous tinctures as well the author has found that the process of percolation is well adapted.

Camphor water was directed to be prepared by weighting several pieces of camphor with fragments of glass rod or selected clean stones, and immersing them in a suitable quantity of distilled water. The process is that of circulatory displacement, and after a few days the water will be found to be saturated with the camphor. A constant supply may be kept by adding fresh portions of distilled water as the preparation is used.

Official Ointments

SO

was the subject of a communication by Robert C. Pursel, a student of the college. The author found that Japan wax was a very good substitute for beeswax in nearly all of the official ointments and in all of the official cerates. The products made from Japan wax were slightly darker in color, but this difference was slight as not to be considered a serious objection. One of the reasons given for using Japan wax instead of beeswax was that the latter is so very often adulterated, while pure Japan wax can be obtained at a price about one-fourth that of beeswax. The observation was also made that while the melting point of Japan wax is lower than that of beeswax, its composition is more firm, and hence a less quantity can be used to give a preparation the desired consistence. Furthermore, it is not so liable to granulate as beeswax, and on the whole appears to be superior to the latter in a great many respects. In conclusion the author said that if pure beeswax were easily obtainable then nothing more could be desired, but as this is not the case, and as one of the adulterants of beeswax which is very often used is Japan wax, he raised the question as to why the Japan wax should not be used in the first place, thereby reducing the cost.

Prof. F. X. Moerk read an interesting paper on

Some Observations on Water Analysis.

He said that in the colorimetric determination of nitrates in water the difficulty in matching colors by aid of a standard solution is caused by the organic matter and may be corrected in the following manner: Two portions of water of 10 Cc. each are evaporated to dryness in small porcelain capsules on the water bath (mark the tests I. and II.); to I. add 1 Cc. strong sulphuric acid, to II. add 1 Cc. phenol-sulphonic acid (prepared by adding 37 Gms. sulphuric acid to a mixture of 6 Gms. phenol and 3 Gms. distilled water); mix thoroughly with the water residue and heat on the water bath for five to ten minutes; then add to I. 1 Cc. phenolsulphonic acid and to II. 1 Cc. strong sulphuric acid, mix thoroughly and heat on the water bath for five minutes; add to each test 5 Cc. distilled water, then 10 Cc. water of ammonia (drop by drop) and lastly dilute with water to the same volume (the volume must be such that both solutions will be much lighter in color then the standard solution): this standard solution is made by evaporating 1 Cc. of a potassium nitrate solution, containing 1.010 Gms. fused salt per liter, to dryness, adding 1 Cc. phenolsulphonic acid. mixing, heating on the water bath for five minutes, diluting with 5 Cc. distilled water, adding carefully 5 Cc. water of ammonia and lastly diluting with water to 100 Cc.: 1 Cc. of this solution represents 0,0000014 Gm. nitrogen as nitrates. Transfer the tests to two cylinders or test tubes of equal inner diameter and match the solutions by adding to the lighter-colored solution (I.) measured quantities of the standard solution and to II. the same quantities of distilled water: by multiplying the number of Cc. of the standard solution that had to be added by 0.14 the parts of nitrogen as nitrates per million parts of water are obtained. Under the ammonia determinations details for a simple working process were given which insures complete removal of ammonium compounds from reagents and apparatus

and obviates the usual correction that has to be made; attention was also called to the fact that the ammonium chloride solution used for matching undergoes deterioration upon prolonged keeping. A paper on

The United States and British Pharmacopoeias

was read by Prof. C. B. Lowe. A series of comparisons was instituted between the two books, the first considered being the authority behind the books. The author said that the B. P. only is strictly official, as it is issued pursuant to acts of Parliament of 1858 and 1862; and that the U. S. P. is only semi-official. The make-up of the bodies under whose authority and supervision the books were issued was then alluded to. The B. P. was issued under the authority of the General Council of Medical Education of the United Kingdom, composed of thirty members. three of whom were apothecaries: it was immediately supervised by a committee of nine of the council, two of whom were apothecaries. The U. S. P. was revised under the authority of the "National Convention for Revising the Pharmacopoeia," composed of delegates from the medical and pharmaceutical colleges and associations of the United States; the committee immediately in charge of the work consisted of twenty-five, a majority of whom were pharmacists. The books were also compared from a typographical point of view, the B. P. being the better bound, while the U. S. P. is better printed. Several tables showing comparison of their contents and the strength of their preparations were submitted, and the new classes of preparations of the B. P. were alluded to. Several striking differences in the strength of acids were noted, and the difference in the strength of some of the much-used tinctures was likewise pointed out, the author remarking on the possible dangers arising from this great diversity in strength, owing to the close intercourse of the two nations. In comparing the weights and measures the author said that the B. P. still adheres to the cumbersome Imperial system with, however, alternative metric formula, while the U. S. P. sanctions the use of the metric system only.

The new B. P. was considered to be a marked improvement upon its predecessor, and although the U. S. P. antedates it nearly five years, was thought to compare favorably with it.

A paper on "some Further Observations on Extracts Made With Acetic Acid" was read by William B. Thomp

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Pharmaceutical Progress.

New Remedies-Improved Processes-Modern Inventions-Wrinkles in Dispensing Tests and Reactions.

Anthraglucorhamnin. The active constituent of Rhamnus catharticus. See also other anthra-compounds in this col

umn.

Anthraglucorhein.-The active principle of rhubarb as isolated by Tschirch. See also other anthra-compounds in this column.

Impure Bismuth Subcarbonate.-P. Jansen (Apoth. Zeit. 1899, 79) has found nitric acid and arsenic in samples of subcarbonate of bismuth obtained from the best makers. No tellurium was detected.

Anthraglucosagradin. This is a name which has been given to the particular oxymethylanthraquinone_compound present in cascara sagrada. For further notes concerning it see anthraglucosennin elsewhere in this issue.

Caeruleum Toluidinicum. This is the German-Latin name for the double zinc chloride salt of dimethyl-tolu-thionin, which has the composition C15 H16 Na SCI. Zn Cl. This substance occurs in the form of a black powder which dissolves in water or alcohol, producing a fine blue color. This toludin blue is, according to C. A. Veasey and G. E. Von Schweinitz a powerful poison to the lower forms of life, and is available like methylene blue for use in ophthalmotology and in the treatment of suppurative infectious dis

eases.

Camphor as an Antidote to Carbolic Acid. Alvarez (Gior. Internaz. d Scienze Med., Jan. 31, N. Y. Med. Jour.) relates a case of carbolic-acid poisoning to which he was called in consultation. He thought that the poison had all been absorbed, and so he did not try to provoke vomiting, but advised camphorated oil to the amount of about three ounces, simply for the sake of its soothing action on the gastric and oesophageal lesions probably caused by the acid. But it seems to have accomplished more than this, for the patient recovered.

Solubility of Peppermint Oil in Alcohol. A correspondent of the "Apotheker Zeitung" mentions that after experiments extending over some years he finds that oil of peppermint dissolves imperfectly in dilute alcohol, and does not give a clear solution in 90 per cent alcohol. An oil obtained on the day of distillation gave a clear solution in dilute alcohol, but in a few days the solubility diminished, and after some months it was no longer clear even in 90 per cent alcohol. He advises Pharmacopoeia authorities to note that the oil loses in solubility through age, but gains in delicacy of odor.

Cod Liver Oil Emulsion with Sodium Caseinate. At the February meeting of the Paris Society of Pharmacy, M. Léger gave the results of his researches emulsions of cod liver oil. He had used caseinate of soda with success, and found that by this method he could include 500

on

Gm. of cod liver oil in the litre of emulsion. It keeps well. M. Guinochet said a good cod liver oil emulsion was much wanted. The most popular French preparations of this nature only contain a very small proportion of the oil. He mentioned a well-known emulsion which only contained 5 per cent.

Saffron-Reactions.-Prof. H. Kraemer, in the "American Journal of Pharmacy," says the most characteristic test for distinguishing saffron from its substitutes is the effect of the use of concentrated sulphuric acid. If a small quantity of saffron is placed on a watch-glass and moistened with the acid, the stigmas become blue immediately, and in half a minute the solution becomes blue, gradually changing to violet and, lastly, deep wine-red. Under similar conditions carthamus-flowers turn yellow, and the solution is colorless for a short time, but eventually changes to a deep wine-red color, the change taking much longer than in the case of saffron. Calendulaflowers turn brown or blackish-brown.

Corrosive Sublimate in Calomel.-In order to obtain a clear solution after shaking calomel with water in testing for the presence of soluble mercury salts, Glucksmann (Zeit. Oest. Apoth. Ver. 1899, 113) recommends that 10 Cc. of water be agitated with 1 Gm. of calomel and allowed to stand for a half hour with occasional agitation. Immediately before filtering he recommends the addition of 1 drop of diluted nitric acid. In this way he obtains after one, or at the most, two filtrations through a plain filter, a clear liquid. The trace of nitric acid is of no consequence. As a reagent for the presence of mercuric chloride in the filtrate, Glucksmann agrees with other authors in recommending chloride of tin instead of hydrogen sulphide..

Value of Eucalyptus Oils.-W. J. Brownscombe (Lancet) dissents from Dr. Benjafield's statement that oils distilled from other kinds of Eucalyptus than E. globulus are comparatively useless. Such a statement, he contends, is utterly without foundation in fact, oils on the market from other species frequently answering the tests of the new Pharmacopoeia even more closely than the oil of E. globulus, as well as containing a larger percentage of eucalyptol. Certain oils from E. Globulus, in fact, will not respond to all the official tests, and are therefore as certainly excluded by the Pharmacopoeia requirements as the oils of other species. The Pharmacopoeia Committee has ignored the geographical sources of eucalyptus oil as a matter of importance, and considering the widely differing sources from which the oil is obtained-and the consequent variations of season, soil, and climate-it is little wonder that there should be variation in the product of one and the same species of Eucalyptus.— Pharm. Jour.

Magnesium Hydroxide as an Antidote to Arsenic. Recent experiments carried out by Glucksmann (Zeit. Oest. Apoth. Ver. 1899, No. 3) tend to upset the generally accepted belief that hydroxide of iron is the best antidote for arsenic poison. Glucksmann found it impossible to completely precipitate arsenic from its aqueous solution by the use of hydroxide of iron, this precipitate leaving from 26 to 68 per cent of the original quantity of arsenic still in solution, whereas magnesium hydroxide completely precipitated its own equivalent of arsenic. Glucksmann proposes the following method for preparing the magnesian antidote: Dissolve 50 Gm. of magnesium sulphate in distilled water and label "No. I." Dissolve 15 Gm. of caustic soda in sufficient water to make 250 Cc., label "No. II." Preserve these solutions carefully in wellstoppered bottles and when occasion for use of the antidote arises mix the contents of the two bottles. The author also directs attention to the fact that magnesium hydroxide is an antidote to alkaloidal and mercurial poisons.

Eu

Eugenoform.-This is the name which has been given to the sodium salt of eugenol-carbinol. It occurs in broad, colorless leaflets, which melt at 160° C., dissolve readily in water, and difficultly in alcohol and are insoluble in ether. genol-carbinol is formed by the action of formaldehyde upon eugenol and is readily decomposed in the body yielding formaldehyde which exercises its antiseptic properties. It was to be expected that such a preparation would possess a powerfully inhibitive action upon the development of bacteria and would act as a bactericide, and the bacteriological studies of G. Cohn have confirmed this expectation. Vogel recommends eugenoform as being particularly well suited for the disinfection of the digestive tract in cholera, typhus and infectious catarrhs, and also for all forms of disease depending upon some micro-organism. Eugenoform is not less efficacious a bactericide than is carbolic acid, but it has the great advantage that it may be given in very much larger doses without producing ill effects. The single dose of eugenoform is stated as from 6 to 15 Gr. morning and evening, and this dose may be doubled after some days.

Valuation of Cinnamon Water.Duyk (Pharm. Post. 1899, 99) proposes to determine the strength of those aromatic waters in which the ethereal oil is composed wholly or almost wholly of an aldehyde by the use of phenylhydrazin. He uses as a reagent a solution of 1 Gm. of phenylhydrazin hydrochlorate and 1.5 Gm. of potassium acetate in 10 Gm. of water, and directs the analyst to proceed as follows: Add a sufficient quantity of this reagent to a sample of the aromatic water under examination to cause the formation of a precipitate; shake thoroughly, gather the phenylhydrozone which is precipitated upon a filter, wash the precipitate, dry on a porous plate and then in an exsiccator and weigh. From official cinnamon water prepared by himself according to the German Pharmacopoeia, Duyk obtained 0.175 Gm. of cinnamyl-phenylhydrazone, which quantity indicates the presence of a little more than 0.1 per cent of cinnamic aldehyde, since 1.67 Gm. of the hydrazone is equivalent to 1 Gm. of cinnamic aldehyde. A control experiment with artificially prepared cinnamon water, consisting of 0.1 Gm. of cinnamic aldehyde in 100 Gm.

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