578 
Progress  in  Pharmacy. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\    December,  1910. 
responded  to  all  of  the  U.S. P.  tests  for  betanaphthol  with  the 
exception  of  the  melting  point,  which  was  found  to  be  1190  C, 
in  place  of  122°  C,  an  indication  of  impurity.  The  conclusion  is 
reached  that  hydronaphthol  is  merely  a  trade  name  for  betanaphthol 
(/.  Am.  M.  Ass.,  1910,  v.  55,  p.  878). 
Iron  iodobehenate. — Basic  iodobehenate  of  iron  is  described  as 
a  reddish  brown,  amorphous,  nearly  odorless  and  tasteless  powder, 
containing  about  25  per  cent,  of  iodine  and  5.6  per  cent,  of  iron. 
It  is  insoluble  in  water  and  in  alcohol,  but  readily  soluble  in 
ether  (Chem.-Tech.  Repertorium,  1910,  v.  34,  p.  509). 
Kephalose. — J.  R.  Hurly  reports  on  the  examination  of 
"  Kephalose,"  a  French  proprietary  exploited  in  the  Philippine 
Islands.  The  nostrum  was  found  to  consist  largely  of  antipyrin 
and  caffeine  with  a  trace  of  acetanilid  and  a  small  percentage  each 
of  potassium  bromide  and  sodium  carbonate  (/.  Am.  M.  Ass.,  1910, 
v.  55,  p.  1040). 
Lime. — L.  W.  Bahney  outlines  a  method  for  the  rapid  estima- 
tion of  calcium  oxide  in  lime.  He  points  out  that  the  percentage 
of  calcium  oxide  depends  on:  1.  The  purity  of  the  limestone. 
2.  The  degree  of  burning  temperature  and  time.  3.  The  length 
of  time  the  product  has  been  stored,  and  whether  it  has  been  dry 
or  damp  during  this  period  of  storage.  The  method  of  assay- 
depends  on  the  titration  of  finely  powdered  lime  suspended  in 
distilled  water  with  oxalic  acid,  using  phenolphrhalein  as  the 
indicator  (/.  Ind.  and  Eng.  Chem.,  1910,  v.  2,  p.  407). 
Pa  paver  somniferum  L.,  M.  G.  J.  M.  Kerbosch  presents  a  com- 
prehensive study  on  the  formation  and  distribution  of  several  of 
the  more  important  opium  alkaloids  in  different  parts  of  Papaver 
somniferum  L.  (Arch.  d.  Pharmazie ,  1910,  v.  248,  p.  536). 
Santonica. — R.  Goerlich  calls  attention  to  the  work  by  Katz  on 
the  determination  of  santonin  in  santonica  and  in  preparations  of 
that  drug,  and  outlines  a  modification  of  the  latter's  method  (Apoth. 
Ztg.  (Berlin),  1910,  v.  25,  pp.  801,  812). 
Sera. — An  editorial  comments  on  the  untoward  effects  of  thera- 
peutic serums  and  points  out  that  accidents  and  untoward  effects, 
which  fortunately  are  extremely  rare,  usually  follow  a  first  in- 
jection of  serum,  only  a  very  few  instances  being  reported  in  which 
a  second  injection  has  caused  serious  or  distressing  symptoms. 
The  percentage  of  fatalities  following  the  injection  of  serum  is 
