376 
by the use of ether. He modifies his earlier statements as to the 
properties of acetone; using a purified and dehydrated acetone with 
thoroughly dried drugs there is yery little extractiye which is insolu- 
ble in sulphuric ether: with commercial acetone and commercial 
drugs, however, there is quite an appreciable amount, greater with 
aspidium and capsicum than with lupulin and pepper. This he 
attributes to the differing solvent powers of acetone more or less 
concentrated and acetone diluted by the water normally found in 
drugs. — Bull. Pharm., Detroit, 1906, v. 20, p. 99. 
OLEORESIUA ASPXDII. 
Francis, John M., says that if the precaution is not taken to dis- 
card the heavy extract which separates immediately on evaporation 
of the acetone (sometimes amounting to 25 per cent of the total 
yield), the yield from male fern will be much too great. He lias not 
been able to demonstrate the presence of filieic acid in this heavy 
extract, though the identity tests for this substance are exceedingly 
unsatisfactory. — Bull. Pharm., Detroit, 1906, v. 20, p. 99. 
OLEORESIUA CUBEBiE. 
Francis, John M., thinks cubeb might well have been included in 
the class of oleoresins extracted by acetone, as the drug yields but 
little [to?] alcohol after it has been thoroughly extracted by ace- 
tone. Alcohol is open to the further objection that its boiling point 
is so high that a considerable loss of the volatile substance from the 
cubeb occurs when the solvent is evaporated. — Bull. Pharm., Detroit, 
1906, v. 20, p. 99. 
OLEUM. 
OLEA PIXGUA. 
Philipp Roder, TTien, points out that the Pli. Austr. VIII re- 
quires the saponification number, in connection with fixed oils, with- 
out considering the components' acid number and ester number. 
The acid number is indicated in but two instances: TTax and oil of 
theobroma. — Pharm. Zentralh., 1906, v. 17, p. 181. 
The Pli. Belg. Ill, under the general title “ Oleum Officinale,*’ 
describes as medicinal oil any nondrying oil that is adapted for con- 
sumption and has little or no color, odor, or taste. It should not be 
rancid and should not become turbid within twenty-four hours at 
10° C. The pharmacopoeia specifically permits the use of olive oil, 
almond oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, cotton seed oil, nut oil, or maize 
oil. The container should be labeled with the name of the oil which 
it actually contains. 
Sherrard calls attention to the assay processes for fixed oils ; he con- 
siders the iodine absorption values very accurate, but he asserts the 
