208 
MYRISTICA. 
Spaeth, E., believes that the microscopic structure of mace should 
be considered. Powdered nutmegs frequently consist of inferior or 
damaged kernels. Commercially satisfactory nutmeg should con- 
sist of the undamaged drug. The ash of the air dry drug should not 
exceed 3.5 per cent and the portion insoluble in 10 per cent hydro- 
chloric acid should not exceed 0.5 per cent. — Ztschr. f. Unters. d. 
Nahr. u. Genussm., 1905, v. 10, p. 26. 
Just’s Botanischer Jahresbericht (1905, v. 33. part 3, p. 752) con- 
tains several references to the cultivation of nutmeg. 
NAPHTHALENUM. 
Riedel's Bericlite asserts that the Pli. Germ, requirement, 218°, 
was found to correspond fairly well with the boiling point of an 
approved sample of naphthalene, at a pressure of 760 mm. With a 
variation of from 720 to 790 mm. pressure, the boiling point varied 
from 215.7 to 220.1° C. — Riedel’s Berichte, Berlin, 1905, p. 47. 
NUX VOMICA. 
Dohme, A. R. L., points out that nux vomica has run pretty uni- 
formly, about 2.5 per cent total alkaloids, or about 1.25 per cent 
strychnine, the maximum variation during the seven years 1899 to 
1905 being 2.3 per cent in 1899 to 2.9 per cent in 1903. — Apothecary, 
Boston, 1905, v. 17, p. 942. 
Vanclerkleed, Charles E., reports 5 assays for nux vomica, which 
varied from 2 to 2.9 per cent of total alkaloids. — Proc. Pennsylvania 
Pharm. Ass., 1905, p. 56. 
Philip Roder reports the examination of 7 samples of nux vomica, 
which varied from 9.59 to 11.83 per cent of water, and from 1.15 to 
2.91 per cent of ash. Three samples that were assayed yielded from 
3.44 to 5.31 per cent of total alkaloids. — Pharm. Post, Wien, 1905, 
v. 38, p. 392. 
Gadd, Sydney C., contributes some laboratory notes on nux vomica 
seeds, the determination of the reaction of the fat present, and some 
additional data on the liquid extract and commercial samples of 
tincture.— Pharm. J., Lond., 1905, v. 21, p. 134. 
Harvey and Wilkie have examined the fat obtained by extracting 
the seeds of nux vomica with ether. A high content of unsaponi- 
fiable material appears to be characteristic of nux vomica. The free 
acid present ranges from 56.7 to 6.9 per cent, calculated as oleic. — 
J. Soc. Chem. Ind., Bond., 1905, v. 24, pp. 718-719. 
Naylor, W. A. H., discusses the several processes suggested for the 
assay of nux vomica and concludes that a satisfactory and expedi- 
