107 
Albert and Lythgoe discuss the detection and the determination 
of eth} T l and methyl alcohols in mixtures by the immersion refractom- 
eter. They give several tables, including: percentage by weight of 
ethyl and methyl alcohols corresponding to scale readings on Zeiss 
immersion refractometer at 20° C. ; scale readings on Zeiss immersion 
refract ometer at 20° corresponding to each per cent by weight of ethyl 
and methyl alcohol ; and readings with experimental mixtures of 
methyl and ethyl alcohols. — J. Am. Chem. Soc., N. Y., 1905, v. 27, 
p]3. 964—972. 
Just’s Botanischer Jahresbericht (for 1905, v. 38, part 3, p. 818) 
contains several references bearing on the production of alcohol and 
alcohol containing liquids. 
ALCOHOL ABSOLUTUM. 
Riedel’s Berichte points out that the Ph. Germ., IV, prescribes a 
boiling point of 78.5 °C. for alcohol, regardless of the specific gravity. 
(The U. S. P., VIII, prescribes 78°C. without qualifications.) Beil- 
stein gives the boiling point of alcohol as 78.4° C. at a pressure of 
760 mm. This figure agrees closely with the results of experiments 
recorded by Riedel, which show a variation of from 77.25° at 727 nun. 
pressure to 79.55° at 797 mm. pressure.— Riedel’s Berichte, Berlin, 
1905, p. 44. 
An abstract (from Ber., 1905, v. 38, pp. 3612-3616) discusses the 
preparation of pure ethyl alcohol and points out that the impurities 
to be removed from commercial absolute alcohol are aldehyde and 
0.5 per cent of water. The aldehyde is removed by oxidation, by 
means of precipitated silver oxide in the presence of caustic alkali. 
The removal of water is effected by the action of metallic calcium, in 
the form of filings. The alcohol subsequently distilled should have 
a strength of 99.9 per cent. The author also includes a study of the 
specific gravity and the boiling point of pure alcohol, and remarks 
that the hvgroscopicity of anhydrous alcohol has been somewhat ex- 
aggerated ; 200 cc. of alcohol after standing exposed in an open beaker 
for fifteen minutes had not absorbed 0.1 per cent of water. — J. Soc. 
Chem. Ind., Bond., 1905, v. 24, p. 1253. 
ALOE. 
Wilbert, M. I., points out that while the general heading “Aloe ” 
allows the use of either Curagao, Socotrine, or Cape Aloes, the first 
and most prominent chemical test of the IT. S. P., VIII, restricts the 
official drug to the one containing isobarbaloin. He points out several 
additional errors and shortcomings. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1905. 
v. 53, pp. 343-348. 
