331 
Lyons, A. B., points out that ipecac would appear to be a case 
where the alkaloidal strength of the fluid extract, after removing 
the alcohol by evaporation, can be quickly determined by the use 
of Mayer’s reagent. Inasmuch as the drug contains two or more 
alkaloids this method can not be said to be less u scientific “ than 
that by alkalimetric titration. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1906, v. 51, 
p. 410. 
Lyons, A. B., reports that 7 of the 12 replies received were in 
favor of the U S. P. standard for fluid extract of ipecac. — Ibid., 
v. 51, p. 137. 
Gordin, H. M., thinks the method of assay for the fluid extract 
unworkable. For the powder he suggests a method, using the shak- 
ing-tube percolator and 2.5 c. c. of a 10 per cent solution of sodium 
carbonate and 25 c. c. of a mixture of three volumes of ether and one 
of chloroform.— Am. J. Pharm. Phila., 1906, v. 78, pp. 157—161. 
Dott. D. B., asserts that ipecacuanha yields its alkaloids readily to 
60 per cent alcohol. The Ph. Brit, treatment with lime he believes 
to be wholly superfluous. — Year Book of Pharmacy, 1906, p. 300. 
Taylor, S., states that the great trouble with the preparation is 
that dilutions of it with weak spirit (wines) precipitate copiously. 
Birk has shown that it is possible to prepare an extract from the 
Ph. Brit, preparation by precipitation of resinous, oily, and inert 
matter. He also states that a 15 per cent alcohol is equally effective 
in exhausting the drug, and the resultant preparation does not pre- 
cipitate with weak spirits. Like all standardized preparations too 
much attention has been given to the standardization and too little 
to the galenical. — Pharm. J. Loncl., 1906, v. 23, p. 669. 
The Ph. Brit. Committee of Reference in Pharmacy report on 
liquid extract of ipecac, says: 
Process unsatisfactory, and should be entirely avoided. Assay method un- 
satisfactory. — Chem. & Drug., Loud., 1906, v. 69. p. 863. 
Evans Sons Lesclier and Webb point out that they found the Ph. 
Brit, process for ipecacuanha liquid extract very unreliable, and 
that they have made many experiments with the different published 
processes to determine their relative merit. They assert that the 
alkaloids obtained by the U. S. P. method were very clean and pure, 
but that they think the process of Farr and Wright leaves nothing 
to be desired as regards both speed and accuracy. — Analytical Xotes 
for 1906, 1907, pp. 20, 21. 
Philipp Roder, Wien, outlines a method of assay for tincture of 
ipecacuanha. The tincture is evaporated, treated with ammonia, and 
washed out with ether. The etlieral solution is washed out with 
0.5 per cent solution of hydrochloric acid, this is made alkaline with 
ammonia and washed out with ether. The ether is evaporated and 
