136 



COCA LEAVES. 



This sample, delivered as No. 60 powder, passed through the several sieves in the 

 following proportions: 



Orams. 



No. 60 29 



No. 50 18 



No. 40 v ' Vi 9 



No. 20 ! 43 



Total 99 



A large portion of the powder was coarser than the pharmacopoeial requirement for 

 assay samples of this drug. The gravimetric results by Method I (U. S. P.) are too 

 few to justify any conclusions. Of the volumetric results, 36 per cent come within 

 10 per cent and 58 per cent within 15 per cent of the average. Of the gravimetric 

 results by (II), 75 per cent come within 10 per cent and 82 per cent within 15 per cent 

 of the average. Of the volumetric results, 33 per cent come within 10 per cent and 72 

 per cent within 15 per cent of the average. The gravimetric averages and likewise 

 the volumetric averages by the respective methods are in substantial agreement, the 

 gravimetric results being somewhat higher than the volumetric, owing probably to 

 impurities in the alkaloidal residue. In (I) Mr. Fuller accomplished the final shaking 

 out with three portions of 20 cc each of ether instead of 25, 20, and 15 cc. He thinks 

 the drug should be digested with the solvent mixture longer than one hour, as the marc 

 in this case still contained alkaloid. Mr. Hankey dissolved the alkaloidal residue 

 with 1 cc of "neutral spirits" and titrated with acid and diluted limewater as with 

 belladonna root. Cochineal gave an unsatisfactory end reaction. Messrs. La Wall and 

 Parker noted considerable emulsification in shaking out by both methods. The latter 

 used 50 cc more solvent than is directed for percolating the drug, and J. G. Francis 

 used 75 cc more, and shook the drug finally with five portions of 25 cc of ether. The 

 extraction was not complete. 



For coca as for belladonna the amount of solvent mixture directed in the United 

 States Pharmacopoeia method is scarcely adequate for the proper manipulation and 

 extraction of the drug. In the final shaking out process further extraction with ether 

 is desirable. In (II) Mr. Blome suggests increasing the ether-chloroform mixture to 

 180 cc and decanting 120 cc. Mr. Hankey obtained a better end reaction with iodeosin 

 than with cochineal. Professor La Wall obtained equally low results in a duplicate 

 assay. J. G. Francis found that the final extraction was not complete. Mr. Pearson 

 could not decant 100 cc without forcible expression, and therefore objects to the 

 method. As in (I), further extraction with ether in the final shaking out is probably 

 desirable. 



In both (I) and (II) considerable impurity evidently passes into the alkaloidal 

 residue, and a more thorough washing with solvent before making alkaline is indicated. 



THE MACROSCOPY AND MICROSCOPY OF DRUGS. 

 By H. H. RUSBY. 



The object of this brief paper is to direct the attention of the members to the 

 importance of chemists supplementing their chemical methods by suitable physical 

 methods in identifying and estimating drugs; and to the facility with which the 

 chemist can acquire enough knowledge of such physical methods, and of the physical 

 properties of drugs, to be of great assistance in his analytical work. 



When the subject of the chemical standardization of vegetable drugs was being 

 agitated in connection with the approaching United States Pharmacopoeia Conven- 

 tion of 1890, the writer was astonished to hear Prof. John M. Maisch declare himself 



