Am"May,ri9Pioarm'}    Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy.  249 
author,  by  Freeman  P.  Stroup,  Ph.G.  (see  April  number  of  this 
Journal,  p.  175). 
Prof.  Joseph  P.  Remington  said  that  there  are  several  things 
to  be  considered  in  discussing  a  paper  of  this  kind,  and  stated  that 
there  are  a  number  of  methods  for  determining  solubilities,  and 
that  investigators  find  differences  in  the  solubilities  of  chemicals 
due  to  the  differences  in  methods.  He  advocated  the  establishment 
of  standard  methods  for  solubilities,  melting  points,  and  other  con- 
stants. He  also  called  attention  to  the  various  alkaloidal  assay 
methods,  and  said  that  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  specific  in  this  respect, 
as,  for  example,  under  colchicum  corm,  where  it  is  stated  that  the 
percentage  of  alkaloid  is  that  obtained  "  when  assayed  by  the  process 
given  below."  The  subject  of  solubilities  was  also  discussed  by 
Frederic  Rosengarten  and  Messrs.  Beringer  and  Cliff e. 
George  M.  Beringer,  Ph.M.,  presented  "'A  Note  on  Cardamom 
and  Oil  of  Cardamom  "  (see  April  number  of  this  Journal,  p.  167), 
and  exhibited  samples  of  the  genuine  oil  which  had  been  furnished 
him  by  different  firms. 
In  discussing  this  paper,  Professor  Remington  asked  what  would 
be  the  advantage  in  introducing  the  oil  of  cardamom  into*  the 
National  Formulary,  and  into  what  preparations  it  would  enter? 
He  said  that  cardamom  is  used  on  account  of  the  flavor,  and  if  the 
proposal  was  to  replace  the  official  cardamom  fruit  by  the  oil  the 
preparations  would  not  be  as  satisfactory  to  physicians.  He  stated 
that  the  essential  oils  are  largely  adulterated  and  prone  to  deteriora- 
tion, especially  under  the  varying  conditions  under  which  they  are 
kept  in  pharmacies  throughout  the  country,  and  stated  that  it  was 
on  account  of  the  deterioration  of  oils  of  lemon  and  orange  that 
the  fresh  peel  had  been  introduced  into  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
Mr.  Beringer  stated  that  it  was  not  the  intention  to  replace 
cardamom  fruit  for  use  in  the  tincture,  but  to  furnish  an  oil  for 
elixirs  in  order  that  physicians  might  have  a  choice  of  these.  He 
said  that  he  had  been  manufacturing  elixirs  for  twenty  years  in  which 
cardamom  oil  was  used  in  small  quantities  and  in  such  manner  as  to 
give  a  blended  flavor.  Mr.  Beringer  stated  that  the  keeping  quality 
of  the  oil  appeared  to  be  well  established,  oils  which  he  had  kept 
for  several  years  under  favorable  conditions,  in  a  darkened  closet, 
showing  no  perceptible  change. 
J.  J.  Bridgeman,  P.D.,  said  that  he  had  been  using  an  oil  of 
cardamom  in  prescription  work  which  he  knew  to  be  at  least  four 
