- 124 — 



anise-scent), reminds less of anethol than of anisic aldehyde. This view 

 was confirmed on furter examination, for even when the oil was placed 

 in a freezing mixture and inoculated with an anethol-crystal only a very 

 little solid anethol was separated, whereas the oil reacted strongly with 

 sodium bisulphite. Apparently the principal body which was liberated 

 from the bisulphite-compound was anisic aldehyde, but is not impossible 

 that other aldehydes may also be present. The sample was too small for 

 the direct determination of any constituent, only a few grams being avail- 

 able. The constants were as follow: di 50 0,9553, « D +32°22', n D20 o 1,51469, 

 soluble in about 4 vols, and more 80°/o alcohol. 



Oil of Pinus excelsa. A sample of an oil distilled from the cones oiPinus 

 excelsa, Wall. (N. O. Coniferae), a tree known in India as "Indian Blue Pine" has 

 been sent to us. The oil, which is locally known as "oil of Pine Cone", 

 was of a yellow colour and possessed the following constants: di B o 0,8757, 

 « D —32° 45', n D20O 1,47352, acid v. 0,5, ester v. 5,6, corresponding to 2,0°/o 

 bornyl acetate, soluble in 5 vols and more of of 90°/ alcohol. The 

 sample sent to us was too small to enable us to give any particulars 

 concerning the chemical composition of the oil. 



New Pharmacopoeias. 



Two new Pharmacopoeias have been published within the past six 

 months, to wit, the 5 th Edition of the German, and the 6 th Edition of the 

 Russian Pharmacopoeia, and we deal below according to our practice 

 with the articles in both of these publications which are of special 

 interest to us. 



German Pharmacopoeia (Deutsches Arzneibuch) V (1910). 



The new German Arzneibuch came into force on January 1 st 1911. 

 Speaking generally, the essential oils and allied preparations are described 

 in this work in an accurate and pertinent manner, and although here and 

 there something remains to be desired as regards details, it is an undeniable 

 fact that the directions of the previous Edition of the Pharmacopoeia have 

 been carefully checked and, where such appeared to be needful, altered. 

 The great majority of the superfluous or antiquated tests have been 

 dropped and other and better tests incorporated, and in particular con- 

 sideration has been given (albeit only in a semi-official manner) to the 

 factor of optical rotation, which is such a very important one in the 

 estimation of essential oils. It is nevertheless to be regretted that the 

 draft of the new Pharmacopoeia was not submitted to discussion at the 

 time. Had this been done, errors and false data, such for instance as 

 those relating to the specific gravity of benzaldehyde (p. 127), the melting 





