75 
Lyons, A. B., points out that from the replies received by the 
A. Ph. A. committee on the L T . S. P. it would appear that the U. S. P. 
standards for alkaloid contents of crude drugs are in the main rea- 
sonable. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1906, v. 54, p. 437. 
Thurston, Azor, presents a tabular arrangement of the pharmaco- 
pceial alkaloids and alkaloidal salts, including among other informa- 
tion all of the requirements regarding source, solubility, melting 
points, and characteristic reactions. — Merck’s Rep., N. Y., 1906, v. 15, 
pp. 256-258. 
Gordin, H. M., reviews the progress in alkaloidal chemistry during 
the year 1905.— Pharm. Rev., Milwaukee, 1906, v. 24, pp. 97-104, 
142-148, 175-192, 208-224, 238-251, 274-280, 366-374. 
Pictet, Ame, discusses the formation of alkaloids in plants as 
indicated from a study of the alkaloids of tobacco — nicotine and 
nicoteine — which he believes are formed by the union of pyridine and 
a pyrrol nucleus. — Arch. d. Pharm., Berl., 1906, v. 244, pp. 389-398. 
Moureu, Charles, discusses the recent work on the alkaloids of 
tobacco. — J. de pharm. et de chim., Par., 1906, v. 24, pp. 302-310. 
Spiegel, L., discusses the advances made in the chemistry of the 
alkaloids since the beginning of the century. — Biochem. Centralbl., 
Leipz., 1906-7, v. 5, pp. 97-104, 149-166. 
Herder, M., discusses the behavior of alkaloids with aluminum 
sulphate, cobalt, nickel potassium cyanide, the cadmium double salts, 
mercury and potassium iodide, and the application of these reagents 
to microchemical uses. — Arch. d. Pharm., Berl., 1906, v. 244, pp. 
120-132. 
Simmer, A., discusses the behavior of alkaloids and other organic 
substances to the solvents used in shaking-out processes, particularly 
chloroform; the decomposition products occurring on treating alka- 
loids with chloroform; and the reducing action of alkaloids. — Ibid., 
v. 244, pp. 672-684. 
" 5. ASSAY PROCESSES. 
Lloyd, John Uri, points out the fallacy of placing too much weight 
on the assaying of pharmaceutical plant preparations and suggests 
that the limitations of assay processes should be better defined. — 
Drug. Circ. & Chem. Gaz., N. Y., 1906, v. 50, p. 8. 
Bougault, J., in a review of the U. S. P., questions the advisability 
of introducing assay processes and analytical methods which have 
not been established by “ abundant ” experimentation. — J. de pharm. 
et de chim., Par., 1906, v. 23, p. 290. 
Tschirch, A., commends the method of directing the assay followed 
in the U. S. P. VIII. The necessary materials being directed, it is 
possible to arrange all of the material before proceeding with the 
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