36  billing  Capsules  with  Essential  Oils,    {A ^.SK*iS£n" 
V.  Sodium  Salicylate  C.  P. 
VI.  Salicylic  acid  C.  P.  (dissolved  in  q.  s.  alcohol  . 
The  first  and  third  were  evaporated  to  small  quantity  in  order  to 
try  the  effect  of  heat  in  liberating  carbolic  acid  after  warming  with 
an  alkali,  the  second  was  similarly  heated  for  the  sake  of  uniformity 
of  treatment.  In  each  case  a  drop  of  the  solution  was  added  to 
five  drops  of  the  formaldehyde-sulphuric  acid. 
I. 
II. 
u, 
IV. 
V. 
VI. 
Cold. 
Cold. 
Cold. 
Cold. 
Cold. 
Cold. 
Crimson  tq 
cherry,  deep- 
ening to  gar- 
net on  stand- 
ing. 
Maroon,  deep- 
e  n  i  n  g  on 
standing. 
Deep  crimson, 
inclining  to 
garnet. 
Faint  pinkish 
salmon. 
None. 
None. 
On  Heating. 
On  Heating. 
On  Heating. 
On  Heating. 
On  Heating. 
On  Heating. 
P'p't  which  is 
maroon. 
Bleaches  to 
dirty  brown. 
Brown, maroon 
tint. 
Rose-pink. 
None,  except 
upon  edges of 
vt  ssel,  where 
superheated, 
a  fleeting 
rose-pink. 
Same  as  V,  save 
that  the  color 
was  even 
more  fleeting 
and  a  strong 
odor  of  oil  of 
wintergre  e  n 
was  noticed. 
Of  course,  iree  carbolic  acid  can  be  dispelled  at  a  temperature 
below  that  required  to  decompose  morphine,  and  from  experiments 
not  tabulated  above,  it  is  found  that  much  of  it  may  be  dispelled 
from  alkaline  combination  by  evaporating  for  some  time  with  strong 
sulphuric  acid.  We  may  conclude  that  the  formaldehyde-sulphuric 
acid  is  a  reliable  test  for  morphine,  but  that  it  is  well  for  one  to  be- 
come familiar  with  the  reactions  given  by  the  substances  mentioned, 
otherwise  an  error  is  quite  possible ;  and  if  these  substances  are  pres- 
ent it  would  be  well  to  remove  them  by  some  method,  such  as  agita- 
tion with  ether  after  acidulation,  whereby  the  morphine  is  left  behind. 
Cleveland,  Ohio. 
A  METHOD  FOR  FILLING  CAPSULES  WITH 
ESSENTIAL  OILS. 
By  Wiuiam  G.  Topus. 
The  extemporaneous  preparation  of  capsules  containing  consider- 
able quantities  of  fluid,  such  as  volatile  oils,  has  never  been  quite 
satisfactory. 
To  seal  the  contents  in  soft  capsules  requires  too  much  time  and 
preparation  for  prescription  dispensing.    Attempts  to  seal  on  the 
