Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. 1919. 



ANALYSES OF DRUGS AND FOODS 



In the following pages are given the reports of analyses 

 of the samples of drugs and foods sent to the Station for ex- 

 amination by the Commissioner of Agriculture in the calendar 

 year 191 8. 



In the case of drugs, the spirit of nitrous ether and of 

 spirit of camphor samples were collected as a probable meas- 

 ure of the care and accuracy of druggists in the preparation 

 and handling of prescriptions. 



Spirit of nitrous ether, commonly called Sweet Spirits of 

 Nitre, is prepared by the druggist by diluting concentrated com- 

 mercial nitrous ether with alcohol. The commercial article is 

 carefully prepared and in repeated trials in the Station labora- 

 tory it has been found practicable to make goods 100 per cent 

 perfect. The prepared goods will rapidly deteriorate if kept 

 under improper conditions. But properly stored spirit of ni- 

 trous ether will keep without any practical change taking place 

 for 3 months. This has also been carefully worked out in this 

 laboratory by putting the freshly made preparation under prop- 

 er conditions of storage and taking a sample from it, just as 

 though a sale had been made or prescription filled from the 

 bottle, at frequent intervals and making the analysis. A drug- 

 gist who fails to have his spirit of nitre of proper strength has 

 only himself to blame. 



Spirit of Camphor is as readily and as accurately made as 

 if one were to dissolve 1 ounce of sugar in 10 ounces of water. 

 Kept properly stoppered the preparation will never change in 

 strength. The divergencies from 100 per cent were in some 

 instances very large. 



In reporting samples of drugs a margin of 10 per cent in 

 either direction is allowed as coming within the limits of error. 

 For instance, a sample of spirit of camphor that is from 90 to 

 no per cent of standard would be passed. In the case of a 

 sample between 85 to 89 per cent or 106 to no per cent of 

 standard the druggist is cautioned. Larger variations result 

 in hearings, and usually in prosecutions. 

 (Continued on page 20) 



