238 
n 
Lyons, A. B., reports that 8 of the 12 replies received were in favor 
of the U. S. P. VIII standard for fluid extract of coca. — Proc. Am. 
Pharm. Ass., 1906, a t . 54, p. 437. 
The annual report of Philipp Roder, Wien, outlines an assay proc- 
ess for the fluid extract of cola in which the preparation, made alka- 
line with ammonia, is directed to be washed out with petroleum ether. 
This solution is, in turn, washed out with 0.5 per cent of hydrochloric 
acid. The acid solution, after being* made alkaline with ammonia, 
is washed out with ether, the latter evaporated, and the residual alka- 
loids weighed. — Pharm. Zentralh., 1906, v. 47, p. 482. 
Sack. J. (Inspectie van den Landbouw in West Indie, Bulletin 3), 
reports examining coca leaves from the garden at Paramaribo, Suri- 
nam. . The freshly picked leaves contained 0.51 per cent of cocaine, 
with 68.9 per cent of water. — Bot. Centralbl., Cassel, 1906, v. 101, 
p. 560. 
Evans Sons Lescher & Webb found a sample of Bolivian coca 
leaves which, when extracted with ether, contained 0.3 per cent of 
alkaloid. A sample of Peruvian coca leaves was found to contain 
0.5 per cent of alkaloid. — Analytical Notes, for 1906, 1907, p. 14. 
Philipp Roder, Wien, reports examining 6 samples of coca which 
varied from 5.07 to 9.90 per cent of ash and from 0.700 to 1.050 per 
cent of alkaloid. — Pharm. Post. Wien, 1906. v. 39. p. 264. 
The Ph. Brit. Committee of Reference in Pharmacy report on liquid 
extract of coca recommends standardization and investigation of pub- 
lished processes. — Chem. & Drug., 1906, v. 69, p. 863. 
A review points out that Brown (Pharm. Ztg., 1896, No. 37) was 
able to produce a satisfactory and stable wine of coca by using a 
fluid extract of coca made with 25 per cent of alcohol. This weak 
alcohol does not extract the undesirable chlorophyl and yields a fluid 
extract that is readily miscible in wine. — Pharm. Ztg., Berk, 1906, 
v. 51, p. 481. 
COCAINA. 
Herting, Otto, points out that cocaine is readily decomposed by 
either alkalies or mineral acids into ecgonin, benzoic acid, and methyl 
alcohol. — D.-A. Apoth. Ztg., X. Y., 1906-7, v. 27, p. 1. 
Riedel’s Berichte points out that the melting point of cocaine 
hydrochloride is variously given as being from 180° to 193° C. This 
variation appears to be justified, to some extent, by the difference 
in behavior under varying* methods of heating. Pure cocaine hydro- 
chloride, carefully dried over sulphuric acid, will, with ?low heating, 
melt uniformly at 182° C. — Riedel’s Berichte, Berlin, 1906, p. 23. 
de Jong, A. W. K. (Rec. trav. chim. Pays-Bas., v. 25, pp. 1-6), 
outlines a method of analysis for crude cocaine by saponification with 
barytes^ washing with ether to remove the acids, and determining 
