BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 437 



(9) The elimination of caffein in the urine of rabbits was studied 

 and the results obtained thus far indicate that it is partly eliminated 

 unchanged. 



Other investigations are as follows: 



(1) The pharmacology of the alcohols and of other compounds of 

 the fatty acid series was investigated and the influence of alcohol on 

 protein metabolism was studied in dogs. The results obtained indi- 

 cate that small doses of alcohol exert a sparing influence on body 

 protein, while large doses favor protein katabolism. 



(2) A good deal of work has been done on the pharmacology of oil 

 of chenopodium and ascaridol. Experiments on this subject are still 

 in progress. 



(3) Much of the information acquued on the physiological effect of 

 various drugs and chemicals was used in connection with the enforce- 

 ment of the food and drugs act and the preparation of expert testi- 

 mony along these lines. Especially was this true of the caffein data 

 in its relation to so-called medicated beverages. 



CHEMICAL REAGENTS. 



During the last year 427 chemical reagents, supplied to the Bureau 

 of Chemistry and branch laboratories on contract, have been ex- 

 amined. The quality of chemicals supplied during the year does not 

 compare favorably with those supplied in 1910. This is attributed to 

 the fact that contracts were awarded to bidders who had not been 

 accustomed to supplying goods to the bureau for analytical purposes. 

 Numerous samples have been supplied by the Government General 

 Supply Committee, with which the Division of Drugs has cooperated 

 in every possible way. 



The following represent a portion of the rejections made during 

 the year: 



Benzol, chemically pure, contained organic impurity. 



Acetone, yellow in color, contained organic and nonvolatile matter. 



Rochelle salt, suspended foreign material giving turbid aqueous solution. 



Hydrochloric acid, low in acidity. 



Potassium oxalate and citric acid contained heavy metals. 



Ammonium hydroxid, low in ammonia content. 



Potassium sulphate contained nitrogen. 



Potassium peroxid, high in acidity and deficient in hydrogen dioxid; one 



shipment contained acetanilid. 

 Several shipments of absolute alcohol were found to contain fusel oil. 

 A number of lots of ether, chemically pure, absolute, were rejected owing to 



the fact that the article contained an excess of nonvolatile material and 



gave the test for the presence of peroxid. 



The manufacturers, however, work in hearty cooperation with the 

 bureau in its efforts to obtain chemicals satisfactory for analytical 

 purposes. The special glacial acetic acid on contract required to 

 comply with the sulpliuric-acid-bichromate test has been found to 

 meet the requirements. It is very desirable that specifications for 

 chemical reagents be established and this work is in progress. As a 

 further step in this direction, the following recommendations were 

 made at the last meeting of the Association of Official Agricultural 

 Chemists, held in Washington, November, 1910, by the committee on 

 testing of chemical reagents, of which the chief of the division of 

 drugs is chairman. 



