374 
ON THE SOLUBILITY OF METALLIC OXIDES. 
TEST FOR ’ MURIATE OF CINCHONINE. 
A few weeks ago, a sample stated to be sulphate of quinidine, and offered for sale at a 
remarkably low price, was given me to examine as to its purity. To my astonishment, not 
a grain of quinidine could be detected, and the sample turned out to be pure muriate of 
cinchonine. The easier the means to find out such a fraudulent substitution the better, 
and as a very s im ple and convenient test, I would recommend to heat a few grains of the 
suspected article carefully on a platinum foil. Muriate of cinchonine, also the muriates 
of quinine and quinidine, fuse and give off, if ignition is avoided, purple fumes, very 
much like the vapour of iodine. The sulphates of the cinchona alkaloids, and the alka¬ 
loids themselves, do not give this remarkable reaction. In sulphate of quinine an admix¬ 
ture of twenty per cent, of muriate of cinchonine can thus in a moment be detected. 
Should the reaction be doubtful, as it will be when only five or ten per cent, of muriate 
of cinchonine are present, the easiest method is then, of course, to test for hydrochloric 
acid in the usual way, by dissolving a few grains in pure dilute nitric acid, and adding a 
few drops of solution of nitrate of silver, which reagent ought neither in the solution of 
pure sulphate of quinine, nor in that of pure sulphate of quinidine, produce the least 
precipitate. U. 
AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION. 
The eleventh annual meeting of this Association commenced its sessions at the Hall of 
the University of Maryland, Baltimore, on Tuesday, Sept. 8th, 1863. Delegates were 
appointed to attend the Meeting from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, New 
York College of Pharmacy, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Maryland College of 
Pharmacy, and Cincinnati College of Pharmacy. After the election of new members, 
and the report of the Executive Committee had been received, the President delivered 
his Annual Report, one paragraph of which we subjoin, as it refers to a difficulty that 
not long since demanded attention in our own Society. 
“ In reflecting on that clause of the Constitution relative to life-membership, the question 
has arisen, How is the Association to be supported in the future so as to meet the natural 
increase of its expenses ? The support of the Body is virtually thrown on a new set of 
members every ten years. Assuming that our present income is just sufficient to carry 
us on, we must necessarily ten years hence have just double our number. Where then 
is the margin for prizes, and other extraordinary outlays? Will it not be wiser to reduce 
the annual subscription to one dollar after ten years’ membership, so that the sum will 
cover the cost of a copy of the Proceedings due to each member, and give a reserved pe¬ 
cuniary power for the future?” 
From the Treasurer’s report it appears that the Association is free from debt, and has 
a balance in hand. The papers in answer to the scientific queries agreed upon at the 
last meeting were called up, when it appeared that a considerable number had been re¬ 
plied to, and the respective papers were referred for publication. With reference to the 
Pharmacopoeia, the following resolution was adopted:— 
“ Resolved , That a permanent Committee on the Pharmacopoeia, to consist of three 
members, be appointed to keep a current commentary upon the Pharmacopoeia, and a 
record of all useful criticisms and suggestions that may be made upon it while in practi¬ 
cal use, with a direct view to its future revision; and that the Chairman of this Com¬ 
mittee may, at his option, report an abstract of such information as he may gain at the 
annual meetings of the Association; and, finally, that members generally be requested to 
communicate to the Chairman any information or suggestions bearing upon the duties of 
the Committee.” 
The Committee appointed at a meeting in Philadelphia, in 1862, to report a series of 
questions for investigation, offered a list of twenty-nine subjects, which have been ac¬ 
cepted by various members of the Association. 
ON THE SOLUBILITY OF SOME METALLIC OXIDES IN SOLUTIONS 
OF THE ALKALINE CITRATES. 
BY HARRY NAPIER DRAPER, F.C.S. 
It is well known that citric and tartaric acids prevent, under some circumstances, the 
precipitation of metallic oxides, and this fact is indeed employed in ordinary analysis, as, 
for example, in the separation of peroxide of iron from the phosphates and oxalates of 
the alkaline earths. In many chemical works, too, the solubility of citrate of lead in so- 
