— 99 — 



in 2,6 vol. and more of 70 per cent, alcohol. From the low ester 

 and acetylation numbers it is to be inferred that the oil contains 

 but small proportions of saponifiable and alcoholic constituents. 



With regard to an oil of Artemisia Herba-alba previously examined 

 by E. Grimal, compare our Report October 1904, 13. This oil 

 differs entirely from the one now under review, which may without 

 further enquiry be set down to the fact that A. Herba-alba shows 

 very wide variations. Several varieties exist which have been regarded 

 as separate species by many authors; J. Gay, for instance, describes 

 the variety above-mentioned as A. Olivetiana. 



Pharmacopoeias. 



The British Pharmaceutical Codex 1907, 



In our previous April Report 1 ) we expressed ourselves in detail 

 on the subject of the requirements fixed in the British Pharmaceutical 

 Codex, published in the year 1907, for essential oils and their con- 

 stituents. A similar review has now been published by C. T. Bennett 1 ) 

 in the Pharmaceutical Journal. Without entering into further details 

 we will content ourselves with the observation that our opinions differ 

 from those of Bennett on many points, and that we maintain our 

 former criticism in every particular. We recommend that in judging 

 oils our observations should be taken as the basis, as otherwise 

 erroneous conclusions might perhaps be arrived at concerning this 

 or that oil. 



Swedish Pharmacopoeia. 

 (Pharmacopcea suecica, ed. IX.) 



On January I st a new edition (the ninth) of the Pharmocopoeia 

 came into force in Sweden. Unfortunately we were unable to discuss 

 it in our last Report, before the actual date when came into force 

 because although we ordered a copy of the book in good time, it 

 only reached us in November 1908. So far as concerns the articles 

 in which we are specially interested, we may repeat what we wrote 

 when discussing the eighth edition 2 ), namely that in their statements 

 as to properties and tests the editors have everywhere been careful 

 to take account of the actual state of science. But we wish to 

 lay special stress upon the fact that the criticisms which we then 

 offered have throughout been taken into consideration in the new 

 Pharmacopoeia, so that there is little left for us to say concerning the 



*) Report April 1908, 134. 

 2 ) Report April 1902, 68. 



