Blome, W. H., reports a sample of tartaric acid with a suspicious 
label which showed the presence of appreciable quantities of iron. — 
Proc. Michigan Pharm. Ass., 1906, p. 107. 
Caspari, Chas. E., reports one sample examined; contained metallic 
impurities. — Proc. Missouri Pharm. Ass., 1906, p. 100 . 
Hankey, William T., asserts that the best obtainable tartaric acid 
is nearly 100 per cent pure, but still shows, by the U. S. P. method, 
slight traces of heavy metals, usually a mixture of lead and zinc. — 
Am. Druggist, N. Y., 1906, v. 49, p. 360. 
G. Hell & Co., in Troppau, refused 4 out of 10 samples of tartaric 
acid because of contamination with sulphates, heavy metals, and an 
excess of ash. — Pharm. Post, Wien, 1906, v. 39, p. 150. 
Evans Sons Lescher and Webb report that out of 110 lots of tar- 
taric acid tested during the year only 3 were rejected as containing 
too much lead, and that only one sample contained more than one 
part of arsenium per million. — Analytical Notes, for 1906, 1907, pp. 
31, 32. 
MacFadden, A. W. J. (Local. Govt. Bd. [Gt. Brit.], Med. Dept., 
Repts. Insp. Foods, 1907, No. 2 , pp. 10 ), reports on a large number 
of samples of tartaric acid. Small quantities of lead were found 
in nearly every sample, and very small quantities or traces of arsenic 
in a number of samples, these impurities being accidental. — Exper. 
Sta. Pec., 1906, v. 18, p. 1149. 
ACONITINA. 
Schulze, Heinrich, discusses the production of aconitine, the chem- 
istry of the alkaloid, some of the derivatives obtained, the composi- 
tion of the alkaloid, and its decomposition products. He is not will- 
ing to decide, as yet, whether the formula C 34 H 4 -NO 41 or the 
formula containing two less atoms of hydrogen, C 34 H 4 5 NOn, be the 
correct one. — Arch, de Pharm., Berlin, 1906, v. 244, pp. 136-159, 
165-196. 
Gordin, H. M., reviews the progress in the chemistry of aconite 
and of the several aconitines during 1905. — Pharm. Rev., Milwaukee, 
1906, v. 24, pp. 98-104. 
Monti, N. (Gaz. chim. itaL, 1906, v. 36, [ 2 ], pp. 477-480), com- 
ments on the fact that most of the reactions of aconitine, including 
the one proposed by Alvarez, are stated not to be characteristic of 
that alkaloid. He recommends the following: From 0.0002 to 0.001 
gm. of the alkaloid is treated in a porcelain capsule with 2 to 4 drops 
of sulphuric acid of sp. gr. 1.75-1.76, and the mixture is heated on the 
water bath for five to six minutes. Aconitine is colored by this treat- 
ment at the most only a faint yellow, but if a crystal of pure resorci- 
nol be now added and the heating continued, a yellowish-red colora- 
tion is produced, which gradually becomes stronger, being at its 
