634 
Variations  in  Nux  Vomica. 
f  Am.  Tour.  Pharm. 
<-       Sept.,  1918. 
Powdered  Nux  Vomica:  U.  S.  P.  VIII  =  1.25  per  cent,  strychnine. 
U.  S.  P.    IX  =  2.5  per  cent,  total  alkaloids. 
SS-lTiplc. 
Total  Alkaloid  Method 
U.      P.  IX. 
Strychnine  Method 
U.  S.  P.  VIII. 
.orucine  by  Uitfercnce. 
A 
2.64 
.88 
1.76 
B 
2-93 
1.32 
1.61 
C 
2.52 
•73 
1.79 
D 
I.92 
•73 
1. 19 
E 
2.97 
i-54 
i-43 
F 
3-21 
1.25 
1.96 
G 
2.71 
1.30 
1 .41 
H 
3-53 
1.30 
2.23 
I 
2.38 
1.26 
1. 12 
A  number  of  interesting  points  may  be  obtained  by  studying 
these  results.  Of  the  nine  samples  all  but  two  would  come  up  to 
the  requirements  of  the  U.  S.  P.  IX  while  three  would  not  meet 
those  of  the  U.  S.  P.  VIII.  Samples  A  and  C  would  pass  U.  S.  P. 
IX  but  not  U.  S.  P.  VIII.  Sample  D  would  pass  neither  the  old 
nor  the  new  requirements  while  sample  I  would  pass  the  U.  S.  P. 
VIII  and  not  IX.  There,  therefore,  seems  to  be  absolutely  no  rela- 
tion between  the  percentage  of  total  alkaloid  and  that  of  strychnine. 
The  percentage  of  strychnine  in  the  total  alkaloid  varies  from  33  to 
53  per  cent. 
Samples  of  fluid  extract  and  tincture  of  nux  vomica  were  now 
taken  at  random  and  assayed  in  similar  manner  as  before  described, 
first  in  accordance  with  the  U.  S.  P.  IX  to  determine  total  alkaloid, 
and  the  final  solution  after  titration,  was  shaken  out  with  chloro- 
form and  the  strychnine  determined  according  to  U.  S.  P.  VIII  with 
the  following  results : 
Fluid  Extract  :  U.  S.  P.  VIII  =  1  per  cent,  strychnine. 
U.  S.  P.    IX  =  2.37-2.63  per  cent,  total  alkaloids. 
Sample. 
Total  Alkaloid  Method 
U.  S.  P.  IX. 
Strychnine  Method 
U.  S.  P.  VIII. 
Brucine  by  Difference 
A 
2.46% 
•79% 
1.67% 
B 
2.64 
1.27 
i-37 
C 
2.51 
I.03 
1.48 
D 
2-39 
.91 
1.48 
E 
2.41 
1. 21 
1.20 
F 
2.48 
•77 
1.71 
