40 



ADULTEEATED DRUGS AND CHEMICALS. 



Since these determinations were made an article by G. M. Beringer a 

 has appeared, from which the following- table on the melting points of 

 mixtures of acetanilid and phenacetin is taken: 



Melting points of mixtures of 



nnd phenacetin (Beringer). 



These results do not add anything to what has already been noted, 

 but they do show clearly, first, that chemists have not yet thoroughly 

 learned how to determine the point at which a substance melts or 

 begins to soften; and, second, that all mixtures of phenacetin and 

 acetanilid do not begin to soften uniformly at 92 C. 



SOLUBILITY. 



The solubility of phenacetin is of service in detecting such adul- 

 terants as sodium bicarbonate, sugar, starch, quinine sulphate, and 

 antipyrin. 



CHEMICAL TESTS FOR ACETANILID IN PHENACETIN. 



Numerous chemical tests have been proposed to detect the presence 

 of acetanilid in phenacetin, but so far the ideal method has not been 

 found. These two chemical bodies bear such a close resemblance to 

 each other that it is difficult to detect the cheaper acetanilid in the 

 more expensive phenacetin. The reverse is quite easy to accomplish. 

 The following tests are given in the order of their usefulness. 



BROMIN TEST (E. HIRSCHSOHN).* 



Boil 0.1 gram of the suspected mixture with 10 cc of water for 

 ^vrral minutes, cool, filter, and to the filtrate add bromin water until 

 a yellow coloration is produced. With phenacetin no turbidity results, 



Drug. Circular, 1903, 47: 184. 



. Ztsrhr. f. Russ., 1888, 27: 794. 



