100 
Patch, Edgar L., reports finding one sample of tartaric acid which 
gave tests for copper and 20 samples which indicated the presence of 
iron and of sulphates beyond the U. S. P. limits. — Proc. Am. Pharm. 
Ass., 1905, v. 53, p. 182. 
Voignier, Paul (Rev. Chim. Indust., n. d.), discusses the manufac- 
ture of tartaric acid. The article contains considerable matter of 
general interest relating to the manufacture of tartaric acid, the 
analysis of argol, and the occurrence and origin of the raw material. — 
Paint, Oil, and Drug Rep., 1905, Aug. 21, p. 24. 
Ley (Pharm. Ztg., v. 49, p. 149) outlines a method for the determi- 
nation of tartaric acid.— J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1905, v. 27, p. 1340. 
Cantoni and Zachoder (Bull. Soc. Chim., v. 31, pp. 1121-1124) dis- 
cuss the solubility in water of the tartrates of the alkaline earths. 
They point out that strontium is the most and barium the least sol- 
uble at the same temperature, and suggest that barium be used in the 
manufacture of tartaric acid, since the resulting salt is much less 
soluble than the corresponding salt of calcium, now generally em- 
ployed. — J. Chem. Soc. Bond., 1905, v. 88, Pt. II, p. 14. 
ACIDUM TRICHLORACETICTJM. 
An editorial comment on the additions to the U. S. P., VIII, says 
that trichloracetic acid is “ much used as a test reagent for albumin 
and as a topical application, but there does not seem to be any special 
reason for including it in the pharmacopoeia.” — Drug Topics, 1905, 
v. 20, p. 195. 
Riedel’s Bericlite points out that most authors, in common with the 
U. S. P., VIII, and the Ph. Germ., IV, give a fixed boiling point for 
trichloracetic acid, 195° C. The Chemikerkalender asserts that this 
acid boils at from 195° to 200° C., and some additional experiments 
recorded in Riedel’s Berichte indicate that the boiling point, at 
760 mm. pressure, is 197.3° C. It is suggested that a boiling -point 
requirement of from 195.8° to 198.65° would meet all possible varia- 
tions. — Riedel's Berichte, 1905, p. 43. 
ACONITINA. 
Herting, Otto, expresses some doubt as to the desirability of officially 
recognizing aconitine, particularly as the now official product is being 
marketed under the same name as others not at all identical with it. — 
Deut.-Amer. Apoth. Ztg., 1905-6, v. 26, p. 155. 
An editorial points out that the aconitines of commerce are so 
widely divergent that much care must be exercised when the dose 
exceeds -gjo grain. The official dose is grain.— Drug Topics, 
A. Y., 1905, v. 20, p. 196. 
Dunstan and Andrews make several contributions to our knowledge 
of the aconite alkaloids: indaconitine, the alkaloid of Aconitum chas- 
