May, 1920] COMMERCIAL SUPPLIES 247 



1717. CbossleY, T. LlNBBY. Mehing point of rosin. Aim t. Jour. Pharm. 91: 1 

 1919.- A comparison if the "film," "capillary" and "column" methods for the determination 

 of the melting point of rosin, with directions for each method. The results show, as the au- 

 thors state that, properly speaking, rosin, like asphall , has no del mite melting point , there- 

 fore, any specificati m aiming to grade it by reference to its behavior on heating should state 

 themeth d for obtaining results. (Reprinted from Jour, fndust. and Engin. Chem., January, 

 1919. V- -A nton Hogstad, Jr. 



171S. DeThouars, G. O. A. Aqua Laurocerasi uit vesschillende varieteiten van Prunus 

 Lauracerasus. [Cherry-laurel water made from different varieties of Prunus laurocerasus.] 

 Pharm. Weekblad 56: 790. 1919. — The author found the statements of Bridel, Juillet and 

 Wester, that the young leaves contain the largest amount of hydrocyanic arid, e irrect, but 

 he further found that the quantity of acid varies considerably with the different species of 

 cherry-laurel. Thus, common laurocerasus contains 0.7 per cent; I. Schipkaensis, 1.46 per 

 cent; I. Schipkaensis Zabeliana, 0.61 per cent; I. Schipkaensis Michiana, 0.62 per cent; I. 

 Schipkaensis Scrbica, 1.08 per cent; I. Caucasica, 1.05 per cent; I. Colchica, 1.36 per cent; 

 I. lalifolia Bertini, 0.7 per cent; and I, rotundifolia, 1.2 per cent. — //. Engelhardl. 



1719. Dox, Arthur W., and G. P. Plaisance. A new method for the determination of 

 vanillin in vanilla extract. Amer. Jour. Pharm. 91: 167-170. 1919. — A brief r£sum6 of the 

 various methods for the determination of vanillin, with an account of the use of thiobarbi- 

 turic acid in the presence of 12 per cent of hydrochloric acid for this purpose. In summa- 

 rizing the authors state "Thiobarbituric acid, which is easily prepared from malonic ester 

 and thiourea, may be used for the quantitative determination of vanillin in vanilla extracts 

 which do not contain caramel as added coloring matter. When caramel is present it may 

 easily be detected by the brown precipitate formed on the addition of phloroglucinol to the 

 clarified extract containing 12 per cent of hydrochloric acid. (Reprinted from Simmon's 

 Spice Mill, November, 1918.)— Anton Hogstad, Jr. 



1720. Findlay, Dorothy F. An iodine factory in eastern Siberia. Amer. Jour. Pharn. 

 91 : 245-248. 1919. — -An interesting account of a visit to a little iodine factory about 200 miles 

 from Vladivostok. The author describes in a popular manner a tour through the factory 

 where iodine is manufactured along simplest possible lines. "Chinese junks go out and rake 

 in the seaweed, which is carried up to the top of the beach, stacked in piles, and burnt on 

 the spot, at a stone's throw from the factory. The ash is wheeled straight into the tanks, 

 lixiviated with the water in the usual way." There are many points of interest as to villag- 

 ers, methods of transportation, etc. (Reprinted from the Pharm. Journ. and Pharmacist, 

 Jan., 1919.) — Anton Hogstad, Jr. 



1721. Gerardix, E. Le Ladanum appele aussi Ambre noir et Baume noir. [Ladanum 

 also called black amber and black balsam.] Bull. Sci. Pharm. 26: 289-297. 1919— Data on 

 the origin of the drug, the etymology of its name, the chemical composition of the balsam, an 

 account of the substances used for adulterating the drug and of the use of the balsam, are 

 given. — H. Engelhardl. 



1722. Jacobsox, C. A. Alfalf saponin. Alfalf investigation VII. Jour. Amer. Chem. 

 Soc. 41 : 640-648. 1919. [See Bot, Absts. 3, Entry 1223.] 



17°3. Koch, George P. The influence of the presence of stems and roots upon the total 

 alkaloid content of the leaves of stramonium. Amer. Jour. Pharm. 91: 11-16. 1919. — In order 

 to determine the possibilities and advisabilities of utilizing the stems and roots of stramonium 

 in conjunction with the leaves, the author sets forth the results of his experiments in a series 

 of 4 tables, which, briefly summarized, are as follows: (1) Moisture determinations of various 

 parts of the plant: Leaves, 80-85 per cent; secondary stems, 87-92 per cent; primary stems, 

 85-87 per cent; roots, 78-82 per cent. (2) Relation of the leaf to that of stems: 47.5-52.5 per 

 ■cent. (3) Relation of the leaf to that of stems and roots: 41 per cent. (4) Total alkaloid 



