154 
Fyfe, John William, says that Althcea officinalis was used in wrongs 
of the urinary organs, especially when there was irritation and pain. 
He quotes an early writer : “ It relaxes the passage in nephritic com- 
plaints.” — Eclectic Med. J., Cincin., 1906, v. 66, p. 320. 
An unsigned article (abs. from Pharm. Ztg., 1906, li, No. 89, 985) 
recommends an improved method for the preparation of sirup of 
althsea to take the place of the official, Ph. Germ., method. — Proc. Am. 
Pharm. Ass., 1907, v. 55, pp. 691. 692. 
ALUMEN. 
Coblentz, Virgil, in explanation of the retention of potassa alum, 
quotes a letter in which it is shown that ammonium sulphate is rarely 
used in making alum on account of the cost ; soda can not be used for 
its manufacture for the reason that it makes a very soluble salt, and 
impurities, associated with the sulphate of aluminum and sulphate 
of sodium used, are not removed by crystallization from the alum. — 
Am. J. Pharm., Phila., 1906, v. 78, p. 390. 
Vanderkleed, Chas. E., found one sample of powdered alum adul- 
terated with talc. — Proc. Pennsylvania Pharm. Ass., 1906, p. 122. 
Hankev, William T., asserts that powdered alum usually contains 
small amounts of ammonia and is not always entirely soluble in 
water. — Am. Druggist, N. Y., 1906, v. 49, p. 360. 
ALUMEN EXSICCATUM. 
Ohliger, Willard, reports a sample of burnt alum of low solubil- 
ity. — Proc. Michigan Pharm. Ass., 1906, p. 47. 
Wiebelitz, H., points out that the solution of exsiccated alum, in 
water, proceeds very slowly, requiring from twenty-four to forty- 
eight hours, and there is usually a residue, upward of 4 per cent, 
that will not dissolve. — Pharm. Ztg., Berl., 1906, v. 51, p. 1003. 
Lefeldt, Max, asserts that additional concessions should be made 
bv the Ph. Germ, for the solubility of exsiccated alum, as it is prac- 
tically impossible to find a commercial sample of exsiccated alum 
that is completely soluble in 30 parts of water. — Ber. d. pharm. 
Gesellsch., Berl., 1906, v. 16, p. 332. 
ALUMINI SULPHAS. 
Coblentz, Virgil, says that while the U. S. P. stands almost alone 
in recognizing aluminum sulphate with 16 molecules of water crys- 
tallization, all other pharmacopoeias requiring 18, examination of 
American-made samples showed that the percentage of water varies 
from 45.49 to 45.6 per cent; 16 molecules of water of crystallization 
represent 45.7 per cent. — Am. J. Pharm., Phila., 1906, v. 78, p. 391. 
