200  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  {AmAP0rnr;i894arm' 
ing  properties :  it  is  not  decomposed  by  boiling,  can  be  dialysed,  is 
soluble  in  water,  glycerin  and  dilute  alcohol,  but  insoluble  in  abso- 
lute alcohol  or  of  alcohol  of  greater  than  90  per  cent,  strength.  It 
forms  a  deliquescent,  white,  friable,  amorphous  mass;  is  not  decom- 
posed by  prolonged  contact  with  alcohol ;  it  is  not  soluble  in  chlo- 
roform or  ether;  it  is  not  an  albuminoid,  but  has  reactions  differing 
from  the  other  known  products  of  bacteria. — Dr.  E.  Cantanin 
(D.  Med.  Wochenschr.),  Pharm.  Ztg.,  1894,  136. 
Alkaloidal  Assaying :  Ipecac. — The  method  described  in  Am. 
Journ.  Pharm.,  1893,  82,  has,  through  an  extended  application,  been 
improved,  chiefly  by  using  a  modified  mixed  solvent  and  is  now 
offered  in  two  forms:  (1)  12  gm.  powdered  ipecac  are  deprived  of 
fat  with  ether  and  transferred  to  a  tared  vial  of  200  cc.  capacity  by 
the  method  described  under  the  assay  of  Nux  Vomica  (Am.  Journ. 
Pharm.,  1894,  42),  the  weight  of  the  ether  made  up  to  90  gms.  and 
30  grm.  chloroform  added  ;  after  5  minutes  10  cc.  water  of  ammo- 
nia (10  per  cent.)  are  added,  the  mixture  thoroughly  shaken  during 
one-half  hour,  10  cc.  water  added  and  again  agitated  for  two  or  three 
minutes  ;  100  gms.  of  the  clear  liquid  are  decanted,  the  solvent  dis- 
tilled off,  the  residue  taken  up  twice  with  small  quantities  of  ether 
(to  remove  the  last  portions  of  chloroform),  heated  for  15  minutes 
in  a  water-bath  at  100°  C,  weighed  and  titrated. 
(2)  12  gm.  powdered  ipecac  are  placed  in  a  vial  of  200  cc.  capacity, 
agitated  frequently  during  5  minutes  with  90  gm.  ether  and  30  gm. 
chloroform,  after  adding  10  cc.  water  of  ammonia  and  allowing  to 
stand  for  one-half  hour,  10  cc  water  are  added,  and  1 00  gm.  of  the 
clear  solution  transferred  to  a  separating  funnel  where  it  is  agitated 
with  three  portions  of  25,  15  and  10  cc.  of  one  percent,  hydrochloric 
acid  ;  the  acid  solutions  are  next  transferred  to  the  separating  funnel, 
made  alkaline  with  ammonia  and  extracted  with  two  portions  of 
50  gm.  each  of  a  mixture  of  chloroform  three  parts  and  ether  two 
parts ;  the  alkaloid  solutions  are  filtered  through  an  ether-wetted 
filter  into  a  tared  flask,  the  solvent  recovered  (the  last  traces  of 
chloroform  removed  as  above)  the  residue  dried,  weighed  and  then 
titrated  as  in  the  original  publication.  The  difference  (0-006- 
0-13  percent.)  between  the  weight  of  the  alkaloid  and  the  amount 
ascertained  by  the  titration  is  much  less  than  in  the  original  method 
(0055-0-335  per  cent.)  To  determine  to  what  extent  emetine  is 
present  in  the  woody  portion  of  ipecac  root,  best  grades  of  dry  Rio 
