96 
ON THE NOMENCLATURE OP THE PHARMACOPEIA. 
of nitrite. Spirit of nitre prepared with this substance had a specific gravity 
<>842, and 2£ volumes per cent, of nitrous ether were separated by the chloride 
of calcium test. 
2. The salt used in this experiment was made by the starch process. The 
specific gravity of the distillate was 0‘847, and the test liquor separated 41 vo¬ 
lumes per cent, of nitrous ether. 
3. Nitrate of soda was now tried, and when rather more than half the spirit 
had come over, the reaction became so energetic that it was necessary to suspend 
the application of heat. The product had a specific gravity of 0*850, and on 
applying the chloride of calcium test 6 volumes per cent, of nitrous ether rose to 
the surface. 
Ihese facts are, I think, a sufficient answer to the above question. 
It is supposed that in making nitrite of soda by the Pharmacopoeia method, 
we shall succeed best by working at a low temperature—avoiding deflagration 
in fact. In this point of view, the substitution of starch for carbon is an im- 
piovement. But here again theory and facts seem to be at variance. Out of a 
number of experiments, all pointing to the same conclusion, I may mention the 
following : When the mixture of nitrate of soda and carbon was thrown into a 
crucible heated to full redness, the nitrite of soda in the product amounted to 
18 per cent. ; but the quantity was increased to 24 per cent, by again fusing 
the mass at a red-heat lor about 10 minutes, so as to driye off more oxygen. 
A portion of the salt made by Mr. Warington’s process was fused in a plati¬ 
num crucible, and strongly heated for about a minute, so that it effervesced 
violently. It now contained 34 per cent, of nitrite of soda, or three times as 
much as before. 
Sheffield, August 11th, 1865. 
SOME REMARKS ON THE NOMENCLATURE OF THE 
PHARMACOPOEIA. 
BY DANIEL HANBUKY. 
I lmrm.icorum northria, saErpins licet absurda, sancte servavi, utpote complurium secaloram 
auction tate, ratione legib usque exempt a.”— Linnceus. 
Some months ago, there was presented to the Pharmaceutical Society by Pro- 
tessor Redwood, a very interesting paper On the construction of a Pharmacopeia* 
one of the objects of which was to invite suggestions for improvements in a pro¬ 
posed new edition of that work. As almost every pharmaceutist must have 
mane m the course of his experience some useful observation respecting one at 
least or the MX) drugs and preparations which the Pharmacopoeia specifies, it is 
to be hoped that I rofessor Redwood’s invitation may receive many "replies. For 
one, eg permission to offer a few remarks on the nomenclature of some of the 
drugs derived from the vegetable kingdom. It may seem a rather trivial sub¬ 
ject upon which to descant, yet it commonly happens that upon the publication 
of a pharmacopoeia the first strictures that appear have reference to changes in 
nomenclature, which seem the inevitable concomitants of each new edition. Nor 
is t ns unreasonable, for the name of a drug is often known and used, when no¬ 
thing else is known about it, and the convenience and suitableness of a name are 
points upon which all feel able to give an opinion. 
remarks^ 01 ^ edwood ^ as toucii ed on this subject in the following judicious 
_ “ a PP ears to rne desirable, a s far as possible to avoid the use of che- 
* A harm. Journ. and Trans. May, 1865 . 
