570  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference.      /Arn- Jour- Pharm- 
November,  1902. 
anha.  The  writers  conclude  that  while  perfect  uniformity  does  not 
yet  exist,  the  official  processes  for  standardization  have  brought 
about  a  considerable  improvement  in  the  character  and  potency  of 
these  preparations. 
Note  on  Aromatic  Sulphuric  Acid. — Leonhard  Dobbin,  Ph.G.,  has 
examined  a  number  of  specimens  of  aromatic  sulphuric  acid  and 
found  them  all  to  contain  sulphovinic  acid.  As  would  be  expected, 
he  finds  that  the  quantity  gradually  increased  with  length  of  time 
the  acid  is  kept.  The  writer  also  suggests  that  the  rate  of  forma- 
tion of  sulphovonic  acid  depends  largely  on  the  temperature. 
Chinese  Oil  of  Neroli.—] ohn  C.  Umney,  F.C.S.,  and  C.  T.  Bennett 
describe  this  oil,  which  has  lately  appeared  on  the  English  markets. 
According  to  the  writers,  the  oil  contains  479  per  cent,  of  esters, 
linalyl  acetate;  21-41  percent,  of  free  alcohol,  as  linalool ;  25-17 
per  cent,  total  alcohols.  The  writers  are  of  the  opinion  that  this 
Chinese  oil  of  neroli  cannot  replace  French  oil  of  neroli,  or  any  of 
the  different  varieties  ot  oil  of  petitgrain  as  imported  into  England  ; 
nevertheless,  the  oil  has  an  agreeable  and  characteristic  odor  which 
may  be  taken  advantage  of  in  the  making  of  perfumes  and  per- 
fumed soaps. 
Olive  Oil :  Commercial  Varieties  and  the  Pharmacopceial  Tests. — 
John  C.  Umney,  F.C.S.,  and  C.  T.  Bennett  think  the  official  charac- 
acters  and  tests  for  fixed  oils  are  less  perfect  than  they  should  be. 
They  propose  that  the  official  limits  for  the  specific  gravity  of  olive 
oil  should  be  reduced  to  read  from  915  to  918,  at  1 50  C,  and  that 
the  Pharmacopoeia  give  tests  for  solubility  and  acidity,  and  also 
specify  the  iodine  number  of  the  oil. 
For  detecting  cottonseed  and  sesame  oils  the  tests  of  Halpen  and 
Trocher,  respectively,  are  proposed. 
Note  on  Cannabis  Indica.— Thomas  Maben,  F.C.S.,  refers  to  a 
paper  by  G.  F.  Merson,  and  also  records  some  observations  on  this 
same  drug  that  have  been  made  by  Mr.  H.  C.  Hamilton,  who 
assays  cannabis  indica  by  physiological  tests.  Maben  believes, 
with  Hamilton,  that  the  cannabinol  of  Wood,  Spivey  and  Easter- 
field  does  not  represent  the  active  principle  of  the  drug. 
Lecture  on  Cannabis  Indica. — Professor  Marshall  gives  some  inter- 
esting details  of  the  collection  and  general  composition  of  the  differ- 
ent commercial  forms  of  cannabis  indica  found  on  the  market.  (See 
also  Am.  Jour.  Phar.,  1902,  p.  448.) 
