Am,juiyr;4h6arm'}    Acetanilid  in  Synthetical  Remedies.  393 
that  I  per  cent,  acetanilid  in  phenacetin  might  not  yield  the  odor  ; 
the  addition  of  a  very  small  quantity  of  ammonia  in  such  cases  was 
found  to  at  once  give  rise  to  the  odor  and  to  be  unobjectionable  in 
other  respects.  To  more  quickly  reduce  the  permanganate,  a  mixture 
of  alcohol  and  chloroform  was  found  suitable. 
A  series  of  experiments,  in  which  o-i  gramme  each  of  the  remedies 
was  dissolved  in  10  c.c.  of  an  acetanilid  solution,  I  :  io.OOO,  and  the 
filtrate  treated  as  will  be  described,  demonstrated  that  I  per  cent,  ace- 
tanilid in  these  remedies  could  easily  be  detected,  and,  if  necessary, 
much  smaller  quantities.  Pure  exalgin,  as  stated  before,  gave  rise  to 
an  odor,  but  this  did  not  interfere  with  the  recognition  of  phenyl 
isocyanide ;  pure  phenocoll  likewise  gives  a  faint  odor,  which  does 
not  interfere ;  the  others,  when  pure,  yield  tests  destitute  of  odor. 
The  test  for  an  adulteration  with  acetanilid  is  to  be  made  as 
follows : 
O-i  gm.  of  methacetin,  phenacetin,  lactophenin,  salophen  or  pheno- 
coll hydrochlorate  are  boiled  with  10  c.c.  water  (salophen  is  the  only 
one  not  soluble  in  10  c.c.  boiling  water) ;  then  cool  quickly  by 
immersion  in  cold  water  and  filter  through  cotton.  To  2-3  c.c.  of 
the  filtrate  add  an  equal  volume  of  5  per  cent,  solution  of  potassa 
(or  soda),  boil  and  add  small  fragments  of  potassium  permanganate 
until  the  green  color  first  produced  gives  way'to  a  violet  or  purple 
after  boiling  ;  then  add  two  or  three  drops  of  a  mixture  made  of 
chloroform  10  c.c,  alcohol  10  c.c  ,  and  water  of  ammonia  0  5  c.c; 
boil  and  again  add  some  of  this  mixture  if  the  permanganate  has 
not  been  reduced  completely  to  brown  manganic  hydrate  ;  after  the 
chloroform  has  vaporized  by  standing  a  few  moments,  note  the  odor 
and.  compare  it,  if  doubtful,  with  that  yielded  by  a  dilute  acetanilid 
solution. 
In  testing  exalgin  omit  the  potassium  permanganate,  otherwise  the 
test  is  made  as  above. 
This  method  of  applying  the  iso-nitrile  test  accomplished  the 
object  of  the  investigation,  and  will,  no  doubt,  be  found  of  even 
more  extended  application. 
Mr.  Michael  Carteighe,  who  for  fourteen  years  has  been  President  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  was  succeeded  at  the  last  election, 
June  3d,  by  Mr.  Walter  Hills.  Resolutions  recognizing  the  Society's  apprecia- 
tion of  Mr.  Carteighe's  services  were  passed  by  the  Council. 
