Am  AprUii;  f^7arm" }     Estimation  of  Alkaloids  in  Extracts.  179 
certain  forms  of  antiseptic  treatment.  It  is  applied  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  other  antiseptics,  namely :  first  washing  out  the  wound  with 
pure  water,  and  drying  out  as  far  as  practicable,  then  thoroughly  dusting 
in  with  iodized  starch  and  covering  the  wound,  even  beyond  its  outer 
edges.  The  applications  are  generally  made  in  the  morning  and  evening. 
-  In  the  removal  of  the  dressings  the  absorption  of  the  iodine  is  most 
strikingly  shown.  Whereas,  in  the  central  parts  of  the  wound,  where 
the  exuding  pus  or  matter  has  come  in  contact  with  the  bluish-black 
powder,  the  same  has  become  wholly  decolorized,  and  shows  the  white 
color  of  the  starch,  yet,  around  the  outer  limits  of  the  dressing, 
where  no  excretive  matter  has  exuded,  the  bluish-black  color  remains 
unaffected. 
Then  comparative  trials  with  iodoform,  subiodide  of  bismuth  and 
iodized  starch  have  demonstrated  that  it  possesses  valuable  antiseptic 
qualities  as  a  dressing,  and  though  it  may  not  be  superior  to  the  first 
two  named,  yet,  at  the  same  time,  it  has  occasionally  succeeded  where 
they  have  given  unsatisfactory  results. 
In  its  preparation  the  pharmacopoeial  method,  given  under 
"Aniylum  Iodatum,"  has  been  followed,  namely,  the  trituration  of  5 
parts  of  iodine  witlr  a  small  quantity  of  distilled  water,  and  the  grad- 
ual addition  of  95  parts  of  powdered  starch,  until  the  compound  has 
assumed  a  uniform,  bluish-black  color.  Then  dry  at  a  temperature 
not  exceeding  40°  C.  (104°  F.),  powder  and  bottle  or  box. 
ESTIMATION  OF  ALKALOIDS  IN  NARCOTIC  EX- 
TRACTS. 
By  Eugen  Dieterich. 
Translated  and  abridged  from  Pharmac  Centrolhalle  1887,  by  Geo.  H.  Ochse,  Ph.  G. 
The  examination  of  all  extracts  regarding  their  value  is  obviously  a 
necessity,  and  in  the  case  of  narcotic  extracts  is  sure  to  be  satisfactory 
because  we  are  dealing  with  fixed  and  known  chemical  compounds,  namely 
the  alkaloids.  A  narcotic  extract  to  be  normal  must  contain  a  cer- 
tain quantity  of  alkaloid  and  should  it  contain  a  smaller  quantity,  be 
it  caused  by  careless  preparation  or  sophistication,  it  must  be  rejected. 
The  requirements  which  the  present  German  Pharmacopoeia  exacts 
(description  of  the  color  and  formation  of  limpid  or  turbid  solution) 
are  evidently  unsatisfactory  and  demand  a  decided  correction  consider- 
ing the  importance  of  such  medicaments  as  the  narcotic  extracts.  Re- 
