373 
when reasonably pure has no objectionable odor. — Year Book of 
Pharmacy, 1906, p. 240. 
Lefeldt, Max, suggests that the oil be removed by a preliminary 
treatment with petroleum benzin in the making of Extractum 
Strychni of the Ph. Germ. — Ber. cl. pharm. Gesellscli., Berl., 1906, v. 
16, p. 336. 
Remington, Jos. P., asserts that the fixed oil of nux vomica con- 
tains an appreciable quantity of strychnine and if the tincture is 
made by extracting the drug with benzin the full alkaloidal strength 
will not be obtained. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1906, v. 54, p. 430. 
Francis, John M., calls attention to the discrepancy in strychnine 
content of the several preparations of nux vomica, the difficulty lying, 
he declares, mainly in the fact that a new assay has been adopted, 
and because the tincture is prepared from the extract and not from 
the drug or fluid extract. He appeals for the preparation of the tinc- 
ture by dilution of the fluid extract ; the extract is a pharmaceutical 
failure and a manufacturing expense. — Bull. Pharm., Detroit, 1906, 
v. 20, p. 11. 
Philipp Roder, Wien, suggests that the water content of solid ex- 
tract of nux vomica should not exceed 20 per cent and that the ash 
content should not exceed 3 per cent of the water-free substance. 
He points out that stronger alcohol produces an extract richer in 
alkaloids, while weaker alcohol increases the amount of extractive. — 
Pharm. Zentralh., 1906, v. 47, p. 482. 
Dott, D. B., asserts that nux vomica, when in a properly pre- 
pared coarse powder, gives up its alkaloids as readily to 60 per cent 
as to 70 per cent alcohol, and with the distinctive advantage that less 
oil is extracted by the weaker spirit. — Year Book of Pharmacy, 1906, 
p. 300. 
Farr and Wright discuss the ratio of alkaloids to extractive and 
report experiments on menstrua for extract and liquid extract of nux 
vomica, the alkaloidal standards for nux vomica, preparation of the 
standardized extract, assay of the powdered extract, microscopic 
recognition of the powdered extract. — Ibid., pp. 229-238. 
Gordin, H. M., recommends that the extract be weighed directly 
into the separating funnel. Before the removal of the last trace of 
chloroform from the final residue containing the strychnine a few 
drops of amyl alcohol should be added and the liquid evaporated to 
dryness by blowing air over the surface of the vessel, thus effectively 
preventing decrepitation. The evaporation of the alcohol from the 
fluid extract is unnecessary. The method can be made much more 
simple by shaking out directly 10 or 5 cc. of the fluid extract with 
immiscible solvents in the presence of alkali. — Am. J. Pharm. Phila., 
v. 78, pp. 456, 457. 
