Am  jour,  pharm.  ]     Cultivation  of  Castor  Oil  Plant.  217 
May,  19 17.      J  J  I 
This  weight  represents  anhydrous  quinine  sulphate,  and  from  it 
U.  S.  P.  quinine  sulphate  is  calculated.6 
The  residue7  should  respond  to  the  following  tests :  A  portion 
dissolved  in  water  by  the  aid  of  sulphuric  acid  (about  1  per  cent.) 
gives  a  vivid  blue  fluorescence  which  disappears  upon  the  addition 
of  hydrochloric  acid. 
Barium  chloride53  added  to  an  aqueous  solution  of  quinine  sul- 
phate containing  concentrated  hydrochloric  acid  gives  a  white  pre- 
cipitate. 
Dissolve  some  of  the  quinine  in  very  dilute  acetic  acid,  add  a  few 
drops  of  bromine  water,  and  an  excess  of  ammonium  hydroxide,  a 
green  color  results. 
To  an  aqueous  solution  add  one  drop  of  hydrogen  peroxide  and 
one  drop  of  copper  sulphate,  heat,  a  red  coloration  is  obtained. 
Chemical  Laboratory, 
Department  of  Health, 
New  York  City. 
4  The  quinine  may  be  extracted  as  the  alkaloid  and  then  computed  to 
quinine  sulphate.  It  may  be  determined,  by  transferring  the  residue  in  the 
beaker  and  filter  paper  (used  in  salol  determination)  to  a  separatory  funnel, 
using  dilute  sulphuric  acid  (about  1  per  cent.),  then  adding  a  slight  excess 
of  ammonium  hydroxide,  and  extracting  repeatedly  with  ethyl  ether,  collect- 
ing the  ether  in  a  weighed  dish  (pour  ether  through  a  dry  filter  paper),  evap- 
orate, and  dry  to  constant  weight  at  ioo°  C.  and  compute  to  U.  S.  P.  quinine 
sulphate. 
5  Two  volumes  of  chloroform  and  one  volume  of  absolute  alcohol. 
6  When  calculating  U.  S.  P.  quinine  sulphate,  two  proportions  can  be 
made:  (A)  in  accordance  with  maximum  loss  permitted  by  U.  S.  P.  on  heat- 
ing to  no0  C,  namely,  16.2  per  cent,  by  weight;  (B)  the  actual  water  content 
in  U.  S.  P.  quinine  sulphate,  namely,  14.45  per  cent,  by  weight. 
A.  (Weight  of  anhydrous  quinine  sulphate  dried  at  no0  C.) 
:  (100  —  16.2)  : :  x :  100 ; 
x  =  U.  S.  P.  quinine  sulphate. 
B.  (Weight  of  anhydrous  quinine  sulphate  dried  at  no°  C.) 
:  (100 —  14.45)  : :  x  :  100; 
x  —  U.  S.  P.  quinine  sulphate. 
7  For  the  qualitative  tests  about  ten  or  more  tablets  can  be  treated  as  in 
the  outline  if  necessary,  but  the  residue  need  not  be  weighed. 
8  If  the  analysis  is  a  very  important  one,  the  sulphate  radicle  may  be 
determined  quantitatively,  and  quinine  sulphate  calculated  therefrom. 
