MagcH 8, 1912] 
and physiologically, and rigid methods are given 
for their detection and estimation. ‘‘The main 
impurities eontained in American anesthetic 
chloroforms are, besides water, impurities de- 
composable by sulphuric acid and traces of the 
oxidation products of ethyl alcohol.’’ The com- 
parative purity of various samples of chloroform 
is discussed, and the necessary precautions which 
should be taken by manufacturers to guard against 
contamination are given. It is pointed out that 
‘serious results have occurred from the use of 
anesthetic chloroform containing foreign sub- 
stances, and (that) although the grades at pres- 
ent sold as chloroform for anesthesia hardly con- 
tain impurities which can be held responsible 
per se for deaths which have occurred during nar- 
cosis, yet the presence of these may produce some, 
at least, of the disagreeable after-effects so often 
noticeable following the administration of some 
chloroform.’’ Results are given which lend 
strong support to the view of the authors as to 
the nature of the oxidation of chloroform and as 
to the réle of alcohol in preservation. 
M. I. Wivpert: The Influence of Patents and 
Trade-marks on the United States Pharma- 
copeia. 
J. B. WinuiaMs: The Estimation of Morphine in 
Pills, Tablets, ete. 
Morphine is more soluble in a mixture of alco- 
hol and chloroform than in either solvent alone. 
The aqueous solution of the sample containing 
morphine is made alkaline and extracted with a 
mixture of alcohol and chloroform, the alkaloidal 
solution evaporated to dryness dissolved in volu- 
metric acid and titrated. Estimatiens can be 
made in from 2 to 3 hours. 
Comparative results with Thorburn’s phenyl- 
ethyl alcohol method are in favor of the alcohol- 
chloroform method. 
FRANK O. Tayior: Note on Mastic and Sandarac. 
C. H. Briees: The Alcohol Requirement of the 
Pure Food and Drug Law and the Accuracy of 
Alcohol Assays of Pharmaceutical Preparations. 
To meet the requirements of the Pure Food and 
Drug Law, all pharmaceutical preparations must 
be assayed for alcohol. Alcohol assays are apt to 
vary for several reasons. Volatile oils and drug 
extracts tend to give low results. 
A ruling to the effect that fluid extracts and 
elixirs could be labeled with the maximum con- 
tent of alcohol is very desirable. 
Frep. Kinin: A Laboratory Siudy of Vegetable 
and Mineral Oils. 
SCIENCE 
383 
FREDERICK J. AUSTIN: Comments on Tests of the 
U. S. Pharmacopewia—Highth Revision. 
Sets forth the discrepancies in the two tests for 
iron applied to copper sulphate, the apparent ne- 
cessity of a time-limit in the test for absence of 
petroleum benzin, kerosene or similar hydrocarbons 
in oil of turpentine, the necessity of using larger 
amounts of hydrochloric and nitrie acids in de- 
termining whether these acids are sufficiently free 
from arsenic for reagent use, and the unreliabil- 
ity of the U. S. P. test for absence of oxychloride 
in solution of iron chloride as an indication of 
whether it is suitable for use in making the U. 8. 
P. tincture of iron chloride. 
R. Norris SHREVE: Suggested Modifications to the 
U. S. P. Assay of Opium. 
Some samples of opium were cited in case of 
whieh the U. S. P. assay will not remove but about 
two thirds of the morphine. So it is suggested 
that a very vigorous mechanical agitation be 
given the opium, and that a test be applied to de- 
termine the completeness of the extraction of 
morphine. 
It was shown that the U. S. P. aleoholie mother 
liquors retain up to 100 milligrams of morphine, 
and to determine this it is suggested that a blank 
precipitation be made on pure morphine. 
To determine the purity of the crude morphine 
the Mallinckrodt reassay is recommended. 
F. P. DunniINetoN: Some Unfamiliar Facts about 
Familiar Detergents. 
J. R. RIPpPETOE and R. Minor: Colocynth U. S. P. 
W. O. Emery: Estimation of Antipyrine in Acet- 
anilid or Acetphenetidin Mixtures. 
W. O. Emery: Estimation of Codein in Acetanilid 
or Acetphenetidin Mixtures. 
L. F. Keser and C, H. Kimserty: Standard for 
Tincture of Ginger. 
An examination of a number of samples of tinc- 
ture of ginger also at times designated extract of 
ginger shows that there was a material variation. 
Tinctures of ginger from the best manufacturers 
were then purchased and examined. The Pharma- 
copeia gives a process for manufacturing this 
article but does not give a specific standard, 
neither is the variety of ginger to be employed 
indicated. The latter is interpreted to mean that 
any kind of ginger may be used. It was there- 
fore decided to purchase representative available 
samples of the various gingers on the market and 
use them in the manufacture of tincture of ginger. 
A description of the samples together with their 
fineness is outlined in the paper. The preliminary 
