524 
Emulsion  of  Castor  Oil. 
( Ana.  Jour.  Pharm. 
X  November,  1907. 
only  one  stem,  but  this  year  each  root  had  three  stems  about  equal 
in  size.  By  the  middle  of  July  the  plants  averaged  4  feet  in  height 
and  by  October  1st  about  65  inches.  A  sample  of  leaves  collected 
in  July,  when  the  plants  were  flowering,  assayed  068  per  cent. 
An  average  plant,  collected  October  1st,  produced  7  ounces  of  dry 
leaves,  assaying  0-48  per  cent.,  and  5  ounces  dry  root,  assaying  0-38 
per  cent. 
Although  the  samples  represent  a  very  short  period,  it  is  very 
encouraging  to  note  the  high  alkaloidal  content  of  the  leaves  from 
the  second  year's  growth,  and  also  the  quantity  which  in  the  moist 
condition  of  the  commercial  drug  would  possibly  weigh  jY2  to  8 
ounces.  The  root  is  below  the  U.S. P.  requirement,  but  is  up  to  the 
average  of  the  drug  on  the  market. 
The  plants  are  in  a  sandy  soil,  in  rows  3  feet  apart,  and  almost 
completely  shaded  by  peach  trees. 
EMULSION  OF  CASTOR  OIL. 
By  M.  I.  W113ERT. 
Numerous  attempts  have  been  made,  from  time  to  time,  to  present 
castor  oil  in  a  form  that  would  be  quite,  if  not  entirely,  unobjec- 
tionable. 
Additions  of  alcohol,  volatile  oils  and  of  carbon  dioxide  have  all 
had  their  advocates,  and  the  various  forms  of  emulsions  have 
repeatedly  been  discussed  in  and  out  of  meetings. 
Emulsions  made  with  acacia,  tragacanth,  yolk  of  egg  or  casein 
are  generally  objectionable  on  account  of  the  viscid  character  of  the 
resulting  preparation.  Saponin  has  been  objected  to  on  account  of 
its  possible  deleterious  effect,  so  that  practically  the  only  substance 
that  offers  a  fair  solution  of  the  emulsion  problem  is  soap. 
Soap  has  been  recommended  from  time  to  time  and  has  quite 
recently  been  discussed  rather  thoroughly  in  several  of  the  European 
pharmaceutical  journals.  The  following  suggestions  are,  therefore, 
not  to  be  considered  as  embodying  anything  new  or  original. 
A  simple  formula  for  a  satisfactory  soap  emulsion  of  castor  oil 
might  be  given  as  follows  : 
Castor  oil  -  50  0  c.c. 
Powdered  castile  soap   1*5  grammes. 
Spirit  of  peppermint   3*0  c.c. 
Solution  of  saccharin,  N.  F   roc.c. 
Distilled  water,  to  make  ioo'o  c.c. 
