370 
these alkaloids in various parts of the plant, Strychnos nux vomica . — 
Arch. d. Pharm. Berl., 1906, v. 244, pp. 129-130. 
England, Joseph W., is not prepared to accept the statement that 
strychnine is the only principle of medicinal value in tincture of 
nux vomica. He points out that if this were true a hydro-alcoholic 
solution of strychnine should replace the tincture of nux vomica and 
the best evidence that it is not so is to be found in the continued and 
widespread use of the tincture. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1906, v. 54, 
p. 429. 
Puckner, W. A., reviews some of the recent literature relating to 
the assay of nux vomica and points out that while manifestly it was 
attempted to prepare directions which one but little versed in analy- 
tical practice might follow, the results accomplished in this direction 
are far from satisfactory. — Pharm. Rev., Milwaukee, 1906, v. 24, 
p. 269. 
Dohme, A. R. L., reports that seven chemists operating on the same 
sample, by the same process found from 0.13 to 0.17 per cent of alka- 
loid in tincture of nuX vomica and from 6.40 to 9.90 per cent in 
extract of nux vomica. — Am. Druggist, X. Y., 1906, v. 49, p. 268. 
Kebler, L. F., reports the results of cooperative work on the part 
of analysts in the assay of nux vomica. Three methods were used, 
or with the determination of the total alkaloids bv the U. S. P. 
«/ 
method, four methods, three for total alkaloids and one for strych- 
nine. The strychnine determinations varied from 1.05 to 1.42 per 
cent while the total alkaloid found by the three methods varied from 
2.67 to 3.29 per cent. — Proc. Ass. Off. Agric. Chem., 23d Ann. Conv., | 
pp. 139-141. (Bull. Bur. Chem. U. S. Dept. Agric., 1907, Xo. 105.) 
TCebster and Pursel review the efforts made to isolate strychnine 
from the total alkaloids in nux vomica, record their own experiments, 
and suggest a modification for the official directions. — Am. Druggist, 
X. Y., 1906, v. 49, p. 363. 
Fronnne, G., points out that in the available literature there is no 
satisfactory explanation of the reason why there should be such an 
evident difference in the yield of alkaloids in nux vomica, by a 
gravimetric and a titrimetric method. In the same sample of nux 
vomica he found, using the Ph. Germ. IV titration method, 3.80 
j)er cent of total alkaloids; Keller’s gravimetric method, 3.39 per 
cent; and Keller’s method with titration, 2.71 per cent. He records 
a number of experiments made to determine the reason for this 1 
variation, and while his work is not completed he believes that the 
saponification of the fixed oil, by the alkali used, is an important 
factor. — Geschafts-Ber. v. Caesar & Loretz in Halle a. S., 1906, pp. 
58-68. 
Caesar & Loretz outline their method for the estimation of total 
alkaloids in nux vomica, — Ibid., p. 118 , 
