954 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLII. No. 1096 



from 11.99 to 12.33 per cent, of ash and from 

 0.1243 to 0.1301 per cent, of total alkaloid. All 

 samples reported upon were prepared from plants 

 cultivated in the Medicinal Plant Garden, College 

 of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota. 

 Some Notes on Sandalwood, Its Assay, Yield of 



Oil, and Changes in the Oil during Distillation : 



C. H. Briggs. 

 Iso-pulegol Phosphonic Acid: Francis D. Dodge. 



The writer has made a further examination of 

 the crystalline acid, containing phosphorus, re- 

 sulting from the reaction of phosphoric anhydride 

 on citronellal. 



The compound is very stable, and yields a series 

 of well-crystaUized salts. By dry distUlation of 

 the sodium salt, a volatile alcohol was obtained, 

 apparently identical with the iso-pulegol of Tie- 

 mann, a cyclic isomer of citronellal. The acid is 

 then most probably a phosphonic acid of iso-pule- 

 gol, and hence a very characteristic derivative jf 

 citronellal. 



Attempts to demonstrate the presence of citro- 

 nellal in oil of lemon, by means of this reaction, 

 were unsuccessful. 

 Note on the Use of the White Mouse as a Test 



Animal for Determining the Toxic Coefficients of 



Various Drugs: J. H. Beal, C. G. MacAkthur 



AND E. A. DOIST. 

 Color Standards and Colorimetrio Assays: H. V. 



Arny. 

 Electrolytic Determination of Mercury in Mercury 



Oleate: B. L. Murray. 

 Electrolytic Determination of Bismuth in Bismuth 



Betanaphthol : B. L. Murray. 

 Electrolytic Determination of Mercury in Mer- 

 cury Salicylates : B. L. Murray. 



A rapid and convenient method of determining 

 mercury in mercury salicylates is herewith pre- 

 sented. It consists in a new application of the 

 already well and favorably known electrolytic 

 deposition of mercury. The method here given as 

 used on salicylates of mercury has been in use 

 about two years and has proved reliable. 



About 0.3 gram is weighed into the mercury 

 cathode dish and dissolved in 10 c.e. of sodium 

 sulphide solution (sp. gr. about 1.18). To this so- 

 lution are added 20 c.e. of 10 per cent, potassium 

 hydroxide solution. The mixture is now electro- 

 lyzed, using a current of 1 ampere and 7 volts until 

 the mercury is completely deposited, usually about 

 one half hour being required. The anode should ro- 

 tate about 500 revolutions per minute. After the 

 deposition the electrolyte is decanted, the mer- 

 cury is washed with water until free from alka- 



linity, then with alcohol, finally with ether, and 



then weighed. 



Hardness, Weight and ThicTcness of Medicinal 



Tablets: A. D. Thorburn. 

 The Sate of Evaporation of Ether in Oil-Ether 



Anesthesia: Chas. Baskerville. 

 The Identification of the Emodin Containing 



Drugs: Geo. D. Beal and Ruth E. Okey. 

 Some Neiu Laioratory Methods: Albert 



Schneider. 



division op organic chemistry 



F. B. Allan, Chairman 



C. G. Derick, Vice-chairman and Secretary 



The Chemistry of Enzymic Action: J. U. Nep. 



The First of the Enzymes and Its Evolutionary 



Significance: E. G. Eccles. 



(1) The prototrophic bacteria as the most prim- 

 itive known organisms on the earth.2 Metabol- 

 ism of Nitroso-coccus of South America, and 

 Nitoso-monas of Europe (Fischer, p. 104). (3) 

 The first known exothermic reaction among the 

 elements. Nitrogen as an acid and base forming 

 element (HNO3, N, NH3). (4) Nitric oxide in 

 the metabolism of nitrite bacteria. A substitute 

 for sunlight. (5) Oxidases as peroxides. Autoxi- 

 dation through iron, phosphorus and manganese. 

 (6) Hydrolysis as related to oxidases. The too 

 often overlooked difference between organic and 

 inorganic hydrolysis and hydrosynthesis. The 

 union of an inorganic acid and base and the union 



of amino acids very significantly unlilce. As gen- 



+ — 



eraXly interpreted the H and HO ions of the two 

 cases are reversed from one another. (7) Nucleic 

 acid as probably related to enzyme action. (8) 

 The co-enzymes and specificity. 



A New Form of Absorption Bottle for Use with 

 either Calcium Chloride or Soda Lime in Or- 

 ganic Combustion: H. L. Fischer. 

 Spectrophotometric Study of Copper Complexes 

 and Biuret Beaction: P. A. Kobek and A. B. 

 Haw. 



The absorption spectra of the copper complexes 

 of amino acids, peptides and proteins were stud- 

 ied quantitatively, by means of a Hilger sector 

 photometer and a spectroscope. 



The results — the nature and amount of absorp- 

 tion — are in harmony with the theory of biuret 

 reaction of Kober and Segiura. 



2 Brit. Eneyclop., New Edition, Vol. 3, p. 165; 

 Lafar's "Tech. Mycol.," Vol. I., p. 380; Fisch- 

 er's " Structure and Functions of Bacteria, ' ' 

 p. 51. 



