230 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
a large quantity of air bubbles invariably adhering to it, and which, were 
removed only by drying. 
It possesses in an eminent degree the smell peculiar to the extract, and 
is decomposed by heat without melting. It is not dissolved by boiling water. 
In dilute acetic acid, the caustic alkalies, and alcohol it is partially solu¬ 
ble. Its alkaline combinations yielded no crystals. 
These results, and notably that of its swelling in water without dissolving, 
and its insolubility in ether, show that it consists principally of cerebric 
acid, derived probably from the nerves which ramify the parts from which 
the extract is made. 
A suggestion arises, that cerebric acid, as transpersed through the nerves 
of the muscles, may have a distinct modification to that found in the brain, 
for its insolubility in water should prevent its appearing in the extract even 
in the smallest quantity. 
COMBINATIONS OF QUININE AND IODINE. 
BY THOS. T. P. BRUCE WARREN, F.E.S. 
Some years ago I required a small quantity of iodide of quinine for a 
medical prescription, which I prepared by adding iodide of potassium to a 
solution of disulphate of quinine in water very slightly acidified with sul¬ 
phuric acid. 
To my surprise, I found that instead of obtaining the pasty precipitate as 
described, it yielded a lemon yellow deposit. N o change took place unless it 
was well stirred, or the sides of the vessel rubbed with a glass rod. The deposit, 
viewed under a microscope, was found to consist of very small prismatic 
crystals, perfectly insoluble in water, but readily soluble in cold alcohol. 
The mother liquor filtered from the deposit gave, on evaporation, a large 
quantity of orange-coloured feathery crystals, which were easily dissolved in 
cold water. 
Solutions of both these salts are rapidly decomposed on exposure to air. 
From this fact I have not yet been able to ascertain satisfactorily the propor¬ 
tions of iodine and quinine contained in them. 
I was tempted by mere curiosity to try the effect resulting from a synthetic 
process, by adding recently-precipitated quinine to an aqueous solution of 
hydriodic acid. The quinine dissolved rapidly, yielding a fine yellow-colQured 
solution. On evaporation and cooling, it gave fine well-defined crystals of a 
pale yellow colour, and which are but slightly altered on exposure to air. 
Some crystals which I obtained about three years ago by this method have 
changed to a slightly reddish tint of yellow, whereas crystals obtained by the 
other method can scarcely be dissolved without change. 
I submit these remarks as I consider no information can be regarded as 
trivial which might affect the production of a remedial or pharmaceutical 
preparation. 
RESULTS OF ELECTRICAL EXAMINATION OF COMMERCIAL 
SAMPLES OF OLIVE OIL. 
BY THOS. T. P. BRUCE WARREN, E.E.S. 
The object of this paper is to lay before the Conference the practical appli¬ 
cation of a test which I had the honour of introducing at its meeting in 
Dundee. 
