532 The Philippine Journal of Science nn 



In addition to the above, the color of the ethereal solution of 

 the crude filicin was carefully noted in each case. 



Determination of asjndin. — The aspidin was determined as 

 directed by Hausmann,*'^ the crude filicin obtained in the above 

 assay was dissolved in absolute ether, and the solution allowed 

 to evaporate spontaneously when the aspidin crystallized in the 

 form of fine needles. When it was not present, the solution 

 merely thickened without depositing any crystals and finally 

 hardened. 



Deter minatio7i of the iodine value. — The iodine value was ob- 

 tained as directed in the United States Pharmacopoeia.*^ Ap- 

 proximately 0.2 gram of the extract was used instead of 0.3 gram 

 as directed. 



Determination of the saponification value. — The United States 

 pharmacopoeial method for determining the saponification value 

 of fats and oils ** had to be modified somewhat as the solution, 

 after saponification, was too highly colored to distinguish clearly 

 the end point when titrating with phenolphthalein as an indi- 

 cator. In order to overcome this difficulty, only about 1 gram 

 of the extract was taken for the determination. The mixture 

 after saponification was diluted with 50 per cent alcohol to 100 

 cubic centimeters in a volumetric flask; 25 cubic centimeters 

 of this solution were transferred with the aid of a pipette to a 

 500 cubic centimeter Erlenmeyer flask, diluted to 300 cubic 

 centimeters with distilled water, and finally titrated with half- 

 normal hydrochloric acid. 



Determination of the ash. — The ash was determined in the or- 

 dinary manner, heating carefully over a Bunsen flame until it 

 assumed a grayish white color. 



PROPERTIES OF GENUINE EXTRACTS 



The physical and chemical constants of the genuine extracts 

 are found to depend upon several factors ; namely, the condition 

 of the drug when extracted, the solvent used in exhausting the 

 drug, and to some extent the method of preparation. Ether is 

 the solvent generally employed for the extraction of the male- 

 fern rhizomes, but as the eighth decennial revision of the United 

 States Pharmacopoeia specifies the use of acetone, the properties 

 of the official extract have been determined and are here stated 

 for the purpose of comparison. With respect to the method of 



'■Arch. d. Pharm. (1899), 237, 544-556. 

 " U. S. P., 8 Rev. (1905), 527-528. 

 " Ihid., 535-536. 



