209 
tious process for the assay of nux vomica could easily be devised 
by adopting either Alcock’s or Bird’s method of extracting and puri- 
fying the mixed alkaloids and subsequently separating the strychnine 
by nitric acid as described by Dowzard. — Pharm. J., Lond., 1905, 
v. 21, p. 125. 
Howard, D. Lloyd, presents a note on the separation of strychnine 
and brucine. He discuses Keller’s method and Gordin’s modification 
of that method, and concludes that the defects of Keller’s method 
are those attendant on the use of chloroform and ether as a solvent. 
He finds that at a sufficiently low temperature brucine can be com- 
pletely destroyed in the presence of strychnine by nitric acid, without 
loss of strychnine. — Analyst, Lond., 1905, v. 30, pp. 261-264. 
Lenton, Walter H.. asserts that the U. S. P. assay for nux vomica 
is somewhat erratic and not comparable with the ferrocyanide 
method. — Pharm. J.. Lond., 1905, v. 21, p. 864. 
Cowley thinks the simplicity of the U. S. P., VIII, method a de- 
cided advantage. — Ibid., p. 889. 
Francis, John M., believes that the difficulty of producing a pow- 
dered extract of nux vomica which upon dilution will yield a tinc- 
ture of full strength, without precipitation, is as yet unsolved. While 
he admits that it may be too early to make a positive statement, his 
attempts to make a satisfactory extract of nux vomica by the U. S. P., 
VIII, formula have not been very encouraging. The process of 
extraction and purification he believes to be very tedious and expen- 
sive, and the resulting extract, after powdering, shows a marked 
tendency to revert to a solidified condition, due to the fact that milk 
sugar is not a good absorbent.— Bull. Pharm., Detroit, 1905, v. 19, 
p. 494. 
An editorial, in commenting on the fluid extract of nux vomica of 
the U. S. P„ VIII, says: 
No directions are given for removing the fatty matter, and a satisfactory 
fluid extract can not he made by following strictly the pharmacopoeial direc- 
tions. — Drug Topics, 1905, v. 20, p. 213. 
Kleinschmidt, A. A., characterizes the tincture of nux vomica as 
being one of the most objectionable preparations of the pharmaco- 
poeia, and believes that an assay for total alkaloids would have been 
better than for strychnine alone. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1905, v. 
53, p. 404. 
Thurston, Azor, examined five samples of tincture of nux vomica 
which ranged from 0.1383 to 0.2912 gm. alkaloids per 100 cc., being 
from 53.9 to 2.83 per cent below standard (U. S. P., VII). — Proc. 
Ohio Pharm. Ass., 1905, p. 34. 
Archetti, Andrea, presents a note on the preparation of tincture of 
nux vomica. — Boll. Chim. Farm., 1905, v. 44, pp. 90-91, 
77439^Bull. 49—09 14 
