26 
Standards  and  Changes. 
{Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
January,  1910. 
quire  the  use  of  a  centrifugal  machine  and  special  flasks,  the  writer 
made  some  experiments  with  the  view  of  utilizing  the  cassia  flask 
which  is  already  included  in  the  equipment  necessary  for  applying 
the  U.S. P.  tests.  The  following  has  given  excellent  results, — the 
only  disadvantage  being  the  time  required  to  effect  separation  in  the 
absence  of  a  centrifuge: 
Twenty-five  c.c.  of  spirit  of  peppermint  are  transferred  to  a 
cassia  flask  and  5  c.c.  of  hydrochloric  acid  thoroughly  mixed  with  it. 
The  flask  is  then  gradually  filled  with  warm  water  (70 0  C,  1580  F.), 
thoroughly  agitating  and  rotating  to  dislodge  the  globules  of  oil 
which  adhere  to  the  sides  of  the  flask.  After  standing  for  twenty- 
four  hours  the  flask  is  again  rotated  to  dislodge  any  additional 
globules  of  oil  which  have  collected  on  the  sides,  after  which  the 
separated  volume  of  oil  is  read  off.  It  should  not  show  less  than  2.5 
c.c.  of  oil  of  peppermint  by  this  method,  corresponding  to  10  per  cent, 
by  volume  of  oil  in  the  preparation.  This  same  method  is  applicable 
for  the  determination  of  oil  in  several  of  the  other  official  spirits, 
such  as  anise,  cinnamon,  lavender,  and  spearmint. 
Spiritns  Frumenti. — The  "  Marsh  "  test  for  caramel  in  whiskey 
should  sepersede  the  fullers  earth  test,  which  is  unreliable. 
Syrupus  Ferri,  Quinines  et  Strychnines. — A  method  for  the 
separation  of  the  quinine  and  strychnine,  as  suggested  under  elixir 
ferri,  quininse  et  strychninae  phosphatum,  is  also  necessary  in  this 
preparation. 
Tinctura  Iodi. — A  purity  rubric  for  iodine  and  potassium  iodide 
is  necessary.  A  method  for  the  determination  of  alcohol  and  also 
for  the  detection  of  wood  alcohol  should  be  given. 
A  method  for  the  determination  of  potassium  iodide  is  advisable. 
The  following  is  suggested :  5  c.c.  of  tincture  of  iodine,  evaporated 
on  a  water-bath  in  a  tared  dish,  continuing  the  heating  after  subse- 
quent additions  of  water  until  all  of  the  iodine  is  volatilized  and  a 
white  residue  remains,  should  yield  a  residue  of  not  less  than  250 
milligrammes,  which  should  conform  to  the  tests  of  identity  and 
purity  given  under  potassii  iodidum. 
Tinctura  Zingiberis. — A  test  for  the  presence  of  capsicum  is 
advisable.  The  test  as  given  under  fluidextractum  zingiberis  is 
applicable,  using  10  c.c.  of  tincture  of  ginger  instead  of  the  5  c.c. 
of  fluidextract  of  ginger  there  directed. 
