ic,6 
Laboratory  Notes. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
1       April,  1896. 
fying  600  diameters,  but  an  addition  of  starch  is  immediately 
revealed  by  this  instrument.  The  percentage  of  ash  forms  a  very 
good  basis  from  which  to  draw  conclusions.  That  our  markets  are 
not  free  from  adulterated  elm  barks  the  following  analysis  will 
show : 
No. 
Per  Cent, 
of  Ash. 
Starch  per 
Microscope. 
Color  per  Lloyd's 
Test  in  5  Minutes. 
Color  per  Lloyd's 
Test  in  1  Hour. 
Body  of  a  1  Per 
Cent.  Mucilage. 
1 
7-88 
None. 
Faint  blue. 
Blue. 
Moderate. 
2.  . 
TH 
None. 
Faint  greenish-blue. 
Blue. 
Heavy. 
3 
3-65 
Abundance. 
Dark  blue. 
Black. 
Moderate. 
4 
3'io 
Abundance. 
Dark  blue. 
Black. 
Moderate. 
5 
7-68 
None. 
Decided  blue. 
Blue. 
Light. 
6 
7-21 
None. 
Faint  greenish-blue. 
Blue. 
Heavy. 
The  adulterant  of  Nos.  3  and  4  was  wheat  starch,  which,  according 
to  the  percent,  of  ash,  amounted  to  about  50  per  cent.  The  per  cent, 
of  ash  runs  a  little  lower  than  that  recorded  by  Professor  Lloyd  for  a 
good  bark,  but  the  time  of  gathering  may  easily  account  for  this. 
The  percent,  of  ash  as  recorded  above  is  based  on  the  samples  as 
received,  without  drying. 
In  the  writer's  experience  the  test  for  starch  will  be  more  satis- 
factory if  the  test  tubes  are  set  aside  for  some  time  to  allow  the  sus- 
pended matter  to  subside.  The  mixture  above  the  subsided  matter 
will  then  show  a  distinct  blue. 
IPECAC  ROOT. 
This  drug,  for  the  past  year,  has  been  of  a  very  satisfactory 
quality.  A  number  of  samples  examined  during  the  past  six 
months  yielded  by  titration,  with  volumetric  acid  solution,  the  follow- 
ing percentages  of  alkaloids:  2- 10,  2-64,  2-35,  2-36,  2*26,  2-65,  243, 
2  45,  2  54,  2  65,  2-10,  213,  2  45,  211,  2-41  and  2  43.  This  is  not  an 
isolated  case.  Data  for  a  number  of  other  drugs  could  easily  be 
added  that  would  represent  an  equally  good  showing. 
POTASSIUM  IODIDE. 
Notwithstanding  the  high  price  of  this  article,  there  exists  very 
little  in  the  channels  of  trade  that  complies  strictly  with  the  U.  S.  P. 
requirements.  Not  only  is  this  true  of  the  commercial  product, 
but  some  of  the  so-called  chemically  pure  material  is  also  found 
