288 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXX. No. 765 



morphin in the residue is determined as silico- 

 tungstate according to the method of Bertrand. 



"Notes on Two Important Alkaloidal Reactions: 



H. C. ITULLEB. 



This paper discusses the value of the Vitali re- 

 action and the bichromate sulphuric acid reaction 

 in connection with the identification of small 

 amounts of alkaloids in the forensic analysis of 

 medicinal products. 



Experiments were conducted with the residues 

 lefc by extracting the alkaline solutions of various 

 drugs with petroleum, ether and chloroform. It 

 was shown that alkaloids extracted from bella- 

 donna, coca, colchicum, nux vomica and yohimbo 

 gave the Vitali reaction with nitric acid and 

 alcoholic potash. The purple color with bichro- 

 mate and sulphuric acid was given to a greater 

 or less extent by alkaloids extracted from gel- 

 semium, hydrastis, nux vomica, opium, sangui- 

 naria and yohimbe. 



Directions are given for the separation and 

 identification of the alkaloids in a mixture of 

 coca, belladonna and nux vomica, and for distin- 

 guishing between strychnin and yohimbin when 

 in small quantities. The difference in reactions 

 between strychnin and the alkaloids of hydrastis, 

 gelseraium, sanguinaria and opium is noted, and 

 emphasis laid on the similarity of the reactions 

 of a mixture of nux vomica and gelsemium to a 

 mixture of belladonna and nux vomica. 



The Estimation of Molybdenum Trioxid: B. Heb- 



STEIN. 



Various methods for the purpose of determining 

 the degree of purity of chemical reagents contain- 

 ing molybdenum have been given, but these vary- 

 ing methods are not only cumbersome, but unsat- 

 isfactory, as to final results. This paper contains 

 a method for precipitating molybdenum from a 

 strongly acid solution by means of thioacetic acid, 

 and converting the purified precipitate by means 

 of ignition to molybdic trioxid in a Gooch crucible. 

 Other sulphur-bearing agents were also employed 

 to precipitate the molybdenum with unsatisfac- 

 tory results. 



Tincture of Iodine: Azob Thubston. 



An outline of methods for determining iodine, 

 ethyl and hydrogen iodides, potassium iodide and 

 alcohol. 

 Chemical Manipulations and the Variation of 



Results: W. A. Pearson. 



The results of a chemical analysis are dependent 

 upon three principal factors : ( 1 ) method em- 

 ployed, (2) technic of chemist, (3) accidental 



errors. The variation of results due to making 

 reports for a moisture-free sample and a sample 

 as received is discussed, and a recommendation 

 made that results, in some way, should indicate 

 the active principles in the drug as received. 



The variation of results obtained in the stand- 

 ardization of deci-normal sulphuric acid is men- 

 tioned and the comparative accuracy of two 

 methods shown. 



The comparative accuracy of short methods and 

 the widely separated views the public has of the 

 chemist's ability, are mentioned. 

 The Need of Methods of Analysis of Pharmaco- 



poeial Articles: B. L. Murray. 



In many instances the U. S. Pharmacopoeia re- 

 quires a high degree of purity without giving any 

 quantitative methods of determining the purity. 

 It is suggested that the American Chemical So- 

 ciety, through its Section of Pharmaceutical 

 Chemistry, endeavor to find suitable methods of 

 analysis, where they are now wanting in the 

 Pharmacopoeia. 

 Chemical and Physiological Assay of Aconite: A. 



B. Stevens. 



Numerous experiments prove that aconite con- 

 tains, in addition to aconitine, a non-active basic 

 constituent which is much less soluble in ether 

 than in chloroform. Consequently the latter 

 should not be used in the assay of aconite or its 

 preparations. The best method for the assay of 

 aconite is believed to be the present pharmaco- 

 poeial method, or better, the writer's original 

 method in which the alcoholic extract was evapo- 

 rated with powdered pumice stone. 



Aconite root, under various conditions of age 

 and preservation, were assayed by the method 

 above and compared with the physiological method. 

 The same methods were applied to galenical prepa- 

 rations in their normal condition, as well as to 

 those which had been subjected to experiments 

 with a view to partially decomposing the alkaloid. 

 The results prove that the chemical method can 

 be relied upon to determine the quality of aconite 

 and its official preparations. Individuals are not 

 alike sensitive to the action of aconite, hence the 

 physiological method can not be relied upon for 

 standardization. 



The following papers were reported by title: 

 The Assay of Meditated Plasters: F. B. Kilmer. 

 Pharmacopceial Ash Standards : Edward Kremebs. 

 Note on the Curing of Burdock Root: Edwabd 



Kbgmebs. B. E. Curry, 



Press Secretary 

 (To he continued) 



