264 
describes it as being a thick, dark-brown liquid, having a mild, but 
rather rancid, odor. It is freely soluble in ether, chloroform, benzole, 
acetone, and carbon disulphide, though less readily soluble in alcohol, 
xylol, and petroleum ether, the latter leaving a portion of the oil un- 
dissolved. The specific gravity of the oil was 0.9616 at 18° C. The 
saponification number 193.52-194.14. The iodine number with the 
unsaponifiable matter 81.65 to 82.05. and without the unsaponifiable 
fat 78.13 to 78.61. The latter amounted to 17.78 per cent of the total 
oil. — Pharm. Ztg.. 1905. v. 50. p. 1031. 
SENNA. 
True. Rodney H.. points out that both Tinnevilly and Alexandria 
senna do well in this country. The season at Washington is too short, 
but an excellent growth of the plant and a good crop of leaves have 
been secured at the Texas station. The plants are hardy there and 
live as escapes. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass.. 1905. v. 53. p. 275. 
Moore. Russell W.. asserts that senna is generally of good quality, 
6 samples showing an average of 37.06 per cent of soluble matter, and 
in every case well above the standard of 28 per cent. — Proc. Am. 
Pharm. Ass.. 1905. v. 53, p. 266. 
Moore. Russell TT.. finds that the determination of soluble matter 
is best made by boiling 10 gm. of the sample with water in a liter 
flask, evaporating an aliquot part of the resulting solution, previously 
filtered, and weighing. The Treasury regulations require 28 per cent 
of soluble matter. — J. Am. Chem. Soc.. 1905. v. 27. p. 614 (from J. 
Soc. Chem. Ind.. 1905. v. 24. p. 487). 
Yanderkleed. Charles E.. outlines a method for the assay of emodin- 
yielding drugs. — Proc. Pennsylvania Pharm. Ass.. 1905. p. 193. 
The revisors of Vienna pharmacies report finding argol leaves as an 
adulterant of senna. These leaves had become comparatively scarce. — 
Pharm. Prax.. 1905, v. 4, p. 38. 
SERPENTARIA. 
True, Rodney H.. points out that serpentaria ls grown regularly in 
the testing gardens of the Bureau of Plant Industry. — Proc. Am. 
Pharm. Ass., 1905. v.‘53. p. 275. 
Hood. C. S.. discusses some of the problems that arise in connection 
with the cultivation of serpentaria. owing to its extremely slow 
growth. — Western Druggist. 1905. v. 27. p. 775. 
SERUM ANTIDIPHTHERICUM. 
Rosenau. M. J.. describes the methods by which the immunity 
unit for measuring the strength of diphtheria antitoxin is obtained 
and the principles involved. This unit is based on Ehrlich's normal 
