Am  Jonr.  Pharm  | 
July,  1881.  j 
Practical  Notes. 
359 
0*2986  gram  of  the  alkaloid  required  18'5cc.  ^  normal  sulphuric 
acid,  a  corresponding  amount  to  that  required  by  nicotina,  to  form 
(CioHj4N2)2H2S04 ;  the  molecular  weight  of  nicotina  being  162,  0*0162 
X18-5  =  0*2997  instead  of  0*2986.— P/tar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  April 
2,  1881. 
PRACTICAL  NOTES  FROM  FOREIGN  JOURNALS. 
By  the  Editor. 
Preparations  of  Peptone. — A.  Petit  recommends  digesting  1  kilo 
of  finely  cut  beef,  freed  from  fat  and  tendons,  with  6  liters  of  water, 
containing  24  grams  HCl,  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  50°C.,  and 
with  frequent  agitation.  A  sufficient  quantity  of  pepsin  (the  author 
has  found  10  grams  of  his  pork  pepsin  sufficient)  is  added  and  the 
digestion  continued  for  12  hours,  when  the  liquid  is  strained,  cooled 
and  passed  through  a  moistened  filter.  Tiie  filtrate  which  is  not  pre- 
cipitated is  carefully  neutralized  with  sodium  bicarbonate,  and,  by 
means  of  a  water-bath,  evaporated  to  dryness.  On  an  average  250 
grams  of  dry  peptone  will  be  obtained.  The  evaporation  may  be  dis- 
continued when  the  liquid  has  obtained  the  density  of  25 ^B.  (sp.  gr. 
1*208),  when  it  contains  nearly  50  per  cent  of  peptones.  This  is  the 
pepsino-chlorhydric  peptone. 
Pepsino-tartaric  peptone  is  prepared  as  above  from  1  \u\o  lean  beef, 
10  grams  pepsin,  10  liters  water  and  150  grams  tartaric  acid;  the  fil- 
tered liquor  is  divided  into  two  equal  parts,  one  of  which  is  exactly 
neutralized  with  potassium  bicarbonate,  after  which  the  other  half  is 
added;  the  mixture  is  cooled  and,  after  tlie  separation  of  the  cream 
of  tartar,  decanted  and  evaporated. 
The  dose  of  peptone  is  about  1  gram,  and  it  may  be  given  either 
enclosed  in  wafer  capsules  or,  on  account  of  its  hygrometric  properties, 
it  may  be  kept  it  small  glass  tubes,  and  for  use  dissolved  in  broth  or 
other  aliments. 
The  following  preparations  are  recommended : 
Elixir  of  Peptone. — Dissolve  peptone  5  grams  in  water  20  grams, 
add  good  wine  40  grams,  sugar  25  grams  and  alcohol  10  grams.  A 
tablespoonful  contains  1  gram  of  peptone. 
Syrup  of  Peptone. — Water  30  grams,  sugar  60  grams,  peptone  5 
grams,  tincture  of  orange  peel  5  grams.    Dissolve  without  heat. 
Wine  of  Peptone.  —  Dissolve  peptone  5  grams  in  Malaga  wine 
95  grams. 
