24 maine agricultural experimlnt statiox. i9t3. 



Hydrogen Peroxide. 



Several samples of hydrogen peroxide obtained in various 

 places, including" department stores and ten cent stores, have 

 been examined at various times. Practically all of these were 

 found to contain acetanilid, but the presence of that drug was 

 stated upon the labels. So far as examined these various sam- 

 ples appeared to be either in accord with the Pharmacopoeia 

 standard, or in accord with the claims made upon the labels. 

 As hydrogen peroxide deteriorates with age only fresh stock 

 should be carried, and it should be kept and dispensed strictly 

 in accord with the recommendations and requirements of the 

 U. S. Pharmacopoeia. While all the samples examined have 

 been passed, the public is advised to obtain hydrogen peroxide 

 as also other drugs which rapidly deteriorate only from regular 

 drug stores. 



Fowler's Solution. 



Several samples of Fowler's Solution were obtained because in 

 other parts of the country drug officials had noted that this pre- 

 paration was often found not to be in accord with the Pharma- 

 copoeia standard. This preparation should contain, according to 

 the Pharmacopoeia, one per cent of arsenious oxide. All the 

 samples examined were passed, although two of them ran lower 

 in arsenic than should have been the case. With the exception 

 of these two samples all were as near the standard as a prepara- 

 tion containing such a slight amount of arsenic could reasonably 

 be supposed to run. 



Glycerine. 



According to reports from some drug officials glycerine 

 sometimes contains arsenic. A number of samples of glycerine 

 were therefore obtained in the various towns of ]\Taine in order 

 to see how the material was dispensed in this State. All samples 

 were tested for arsenic and none was found. The United 

 States Pharmacopoeia states that glycerine should have a specific 

 gravity of not less than 1.24 at 25 degrees C. The specific gravi- 

 ty of all the samples obtained was taken, and all were found 

 to run above the standard, and all the samples were passed. 



