A  AuJgusrt,^m-}  Laboratory  Notes.  377 
LABORATORY  NOTES.1 
By  Charges  H.  La  Waix  and  Robt.  C.  Purser. 
The  following  analytical  notes  have  been  obtained  during  the  past- 
year  in  the  practical  examination  of  the  substances  under  con- 
sideration : 
Glycerin. — Ten  (10)  samples  of  glycerin,  representing  over  150,000 
pounds,  were  examined,  with  the  following  results  : 
Min.  Max.  Average. 
Specific  Gravity  i'2535       1*2610  1*2572 
The  samples  in  every  case  complied  with  all  but  one  of  the 
U.S.P.  requirements.  The  test  for  fatty  acids  which  is  contained  in 
the  U.S  P.  is  either  too  rigid  or  the  manufacturers  of  glycerin  are 
careless  in  its  purification,  for  every  sample  developed  a  distinctly 
acidulous  odor  when  heated  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  as  required 
by  the  U.S.P.  To  free  the  glycerin  from  this  accompanying  trace 
of  fatty  acid  would,  doubtless,  increase  its  cost  to  the  consumer, 
and  its  presence  probably  does  no  great  harm  in  most  cases  in 
which  glycerin  is  used. 
Carbon  Disulphide. — Twelve  (12)  samples,  representing  several 
hundred  pounds,  were  examined,  with  the  following  results  : 
Min.  Max.  Average. 
Specific  Gravity  1*2608     1*2779  1*2652 
All  samples  examined  contained  traces  of  dissolved  sulphur,  and 
a  few  showed  the  presence  of  sulphur  dioxide.  In  this  case,  as  in 
the  case  of  glycerin,  the  further /purification  of  the  article  would, 
doubtless,  increase  its  cost  without  any  material  advantage. 
Carthagena  Ipecac. — About  two  years  ago  the  scarcity  of  Rio 
Ipecac  led  to  the  importation  in  a  small  way  of  Carthagena  Ipecac 
for  trial  by  manufacturers. 
The  United  States  custom  authorities  attempted  to  prevent  the 
importation  of  the  Carthagena  variety  on  the  grounds  that  it  was 
not  the  official  drug,  and  would  be  used  as  an  adulterant.  Upon 
making  an  appeal  and  proving  the  identity  of  the  species  by  refer- 
ring to  the  botanical  authorities,  and  also  showing  that  its  alka- 
loidal  content  was  equal  to,  if  not  higher  than,  the  Rio  variety,  its 
importation  was  allowed,  and,  since  that  time,  many  thousands  of 
>  1  Read  at  the  meeting  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Pharmaceutical  Associa- 
tion, June,  1900. 
