THE  AMEKIOAN 
OF  PHARMACY 
THE  EXAMWATION  OF  SOME  DRUGS  WITH  SPECIAL 
REFERENd^S^^E/NHYDROUS  ALCOHOL  AND 
ETWrt^TRACTS  AND  ASH.* 
By  J.  R.  Rippetoe,  Analysts  N.  Smith,  W.  Taylor,  and  G.  Stoddart. 
As  announced  in  the  first  paper  bearing  the  above  title,1  in  the 
examination  of  a  number  of  commercial  samples  of  vegetable  drugs, 
in  addition  to  identifying  the  samples  and  making  specified  tests  for 
added  or  accidental  impurities,  such  as  starch,  etc.,  we  have  attempted 
to  make  some  assays  that  would  serve  as  a  means  for  determining 
the  relative  value  of  the  sample  when  compared  with  some  other 
sample  or  standard. 
These  assays  have  consisted  chiefly  in  determining  anhydrous 
extracts,  alcohol  and  water,  ether,  chloroform,  or  petroleum  ether, 
as  may  be  suggested  by  the  nature  of  the  drug. 
Since  the  appearance  of  the  first  paper  we  have  examined  a 
number  of  drugs  along  the  same  lines.  The  results  of  this  work  are 
given  in  the  list  appended,  which  list  not  only  includes  many  of  the 
names  appearing  in  the  first  paper  but  also  many  drugs  not  heretofore 
considered. 
For  some  drugs  the  value  of  determining  the  amount  of  an- 
hydrous matter  that  may  be  extracted  with  various  solvents  has  been 
pretty  well  established,  also  the  determination  of  ash.  This  has  been 
recognized  by  the  Ninth  Revision  Committee  of  the  U.  S.  P.,  and  it 
is  indicated  2  that  a  large  number  of  official  drugs  are  to  have  an- 
hydrous or  volatile  extract  and  ash  standards. 
*  Second  Paper. 
1  First  paper,  Rippetoe  and  R.  Minor,  this  Journal,  October,  1912,  pp.  433- 
445- 
2  /.  A.  Ph.  A.,  March,  1914,  p.  359. 
(435) 
