319 
Puckner, W. A., in reviewing the recent literature relating to the 
assay of hydrastis points out that the variation, in the processes of 
assa} 7 for hydrastis and its fluid extract, is quite marked and that 
the method of assay for the fluid extract yields a much purer hydras- 
tine than does that for hydrastis itself. — Pharm. Rev., Milwaukee, 
1906, v. 24, p. 268. 
See Gordin's comments on belladonna, in which he recommends the 
use of his percolator shaking tube. 
Caesar & Loretz suggest the estimation of the moisture content and 
outline a method for determining the amount of alkaloid in hydrastis 
and m the fluid extract. — Geschafts.-Ber. v. Caesar & Loretz, in Halle 
a. S., 1906, pp. 100-101, 112-113. 
Dohme, A. R. L., reports a variation of from 3.23 to 4 per cent of 
alkaloid found by seven analysts in the same sample of hydrastis by 
the same process. — Am. Druggist, X. Y., 1906, v. 49, p. 268. 
Hanke} 7 , William T., asserts that in assaying hydrastis he has 
never been able to get the alkaloid perfectly white, as the } 7 ellow alka- 
loid was always present in sufficient quantities to impart a marked 
yellow color. He doubts the advisability of using aliquot parts of 
the ether solution as a general proposition in assay work. — Am. Drug- 
gist, N. Y., 1906, v. 49, p. 361. 
Francis, John M., thinks that prime drug will readily yield 2.5 per 
cent liydrastine; the pliarmacopceial standard is therefore not too 
high in spite of the increased price of the drug. — Bui. Pharm., 
Detroit, 1906, v. 20, p. 55. 
Lyons, A. B., asserts that hydrastis seldom contains less than 2.5 
per cent of hydrastine, but in view of the reports from others it may 
be that a standard of 2 per cent is not too low. The assay process 
does not give a pure hydrastine, as is shown by the yellow color of 
the alkaloid extracted. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1906, v. 54, p. 439. 
Philipp Roder, Wien, reports examining 15 samples of hydrastis. 
The} 7 varied from 2.33 to 10.21 per cent of ash, in the air dry drug, 
and from 0.80 to 3.14 per cent of hydrastine. Five of the samples 
contained less than 2 per cent of hydrastine. — Pharm. Post, Wien, 
1906, v. 39, p. 284. 
Ohliger, Willard, reports that hydrastis usually runs higher than 
the required standard. — Proc. Michigan Pharm. Ass., 1906, p. 47. 
Vanderkleed, Charles E., reports the assay of 7 lots of hydrastis 
averaging 3.55 per cent of hydrastine. Two samples assayed below 
the required 2.5 per cent of hydrastine. — Proc. Pennsylvania Pharm. 
Ass., 1906, p. 123. 
Smith, Kline & French Co. report that two samples of hydrastis 
examined contained 2.2 per cent and 2.85 per cent of hydrastine, re- 
spectively. — Lab. Rep. S. K. & F., 1906, p. 17. 
