October 7, 1910] 



SCIENCE 



487 



at 100°, quinine shows no conversion to quino- 

 toxine; while in the presence of many organic 

 acids, partial conversion is effected in a few 

 hours at temperatures as low as 30-35°, and 

 appreciable conversion is shown on longer stand- 

 ing even at room temperature ( 18° ) . It conse- 

 quently appears that under suitable conditions 

 quinine may give rise to quinotoxine in the 

 human system. 



Tlie reaction is of additional interest as pre- 

 senting a case of catalysis by acids in which the 

 change is apparently not affected by the hydrogen 

 ion of the acid present. 



Other papers presented for which no abstracts 

 have been received: 

 The Unsaturated Character of the Resin of Pinus 



sabiniana: Ch.^s. H. Herty and E. X. Tillett. 

 A Study of the Eesene of Pinus heterophylla : 



Chas. H. Hertt, W. a. Houck and T. P. Nash. 

 Action of Acetic Anhydride on p. Methoxy-phenyl- 



propiolic Acid and on Methylene Ether of 3-lf 



Dihoxy-phenyl-propiolic Add: Maurice L. 



Dolt. 

 The Cotistititti07i of the Oxonium Salts: M. Goii- 



bebq. 

 Action of Amines on Phthalie Acid VII. Phthal- 



amidic Acids containing CI or JVOo in the 



Benzene Nucleus: J. Bishop Tingle and S. J. 



Bates. 

 Camphoroxalic Acid XIII. Action of Amines on 



Camphoroxalic Acid: J. Bishop Tingle and S. 



J. Bates. 



division of pharmaceutical chemistry 

 Asafetidfi: W. A. Pearson. 



Considerable analytical data are presented to 

 illustrate the extent of variation due to sampling, 

 methods of assay and loss in powdering. Im- 

 proper sampling may be responsible for an error 

 of 100 per cent., methods of assay about 2 per 

 cent., while during drying preparatory to powder- 

 ing a loss of approximately 20 per cent, is in- 

 curred. 

 Capsaicin, the Pungent Principle of Capsicum 



and the Detection of Capsicum: E. K. Xelson. 



Capsaicin was isolated from capsicum by the 

 method of Micko, and its properties studied. 



From fifteen hundred grams of selected African 

 pods, 2.13 grams of pure, crystalline capsaicin 

 were obtained, representing 0.14 per cent, of the 

 original material. 



The extreme pungency of capsaicin was found 

 to be the only property of the body of service in 



detecting small quantities of capsicum, and a 

 method is proposed by the author for the detec- 

 tion of capsicum when used to fortify ginger 

 preparations. 



Note on the Volatility of Cocain: H. C. Fuller. 



When drying cocain residues during the proc- 

 ess of analyzing galenical preparations, it was 

 noted that at 100° C. the cocain alkaloid was 

 volatile, collecting as a sublimate on the sides of 

 the dish and on the watch glass used as a cover- 

 ing. E.xperiments showed that there was no loss 

 at 60, 80 and 90 degrees, but at 98 degrees the 

 cocain began to sublime and figures are given 

 showing the gradual loss at 100° C. 

 Separation and Determination of Cocain and 



Strychnin, and Atropin and Strychnin when 



they occur Together: H. C. Fuller. 



The alkaloids are extracted from the drug 

 product and weighed together, using proper pre- 

 cautions to obtain them in a pure condition. 

 They are then dissolved in alcoholic potash, trans- 

 ferred to a pressure flask and heated over the 

 steam bath for one hour, which completely hy- 

 drolyzes the cocain and atropin, but does not 

 affect the strychnin. The latter is then separated 

 and weighed. 



The Correlation of the Microscopical and Chem- 

 ical Analyses of Vegetable Drugs, Foods and 

 Spices: Albert Schneider. 

 Calls attention to the value of the compound 

 microscope as a ready means for determining the 

 quality and purity of foods and drugs. The rela- 

 tive value and significance of the chemical and 

 microscopical analyses is outlined. The micro- 

 scopical method is of first importance in the 

 examination of vegetable substances of all kinds 

 and the solid preparations made therefrom while 

 the chemical method is of first importance in the 

 analysis of liquids, solutions and chemicals gen- 

 erally. The microscopical method is quick in re- 

 sults, the chemical method often slow and tedious. 

 Most analyses are incomplete without both meth- 

 ods. The work for the chemical analysts and the 

 micro-analysts is outlined. The bacteriological 

 testing of substances that require it is assigned 

 to the micro-analyst rather than to the chemist. 

 Titles of other papers follow for which no 

 abstracts have been received: 



Determination of Iodine and Chlorine in Thymol 

 Iodide by Electrolytic Means: B. L. Murray. 



Electrolytic Determination of Mercury in the 

 Mercury Salts of the Pharmacopoeia: B. L. 

 Murray. 



