Aseptembef,hia8M?'}    American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  523 
A  METHOD  FOR  THE  DETERMINATION  OF  PHOSPHORIC  ACID 
IN  SOLUBLE  FERRIC  PHOSPHATE,  U.  S.  P. 
By  W.  A.  Puckner  and  Frank  Julian. 
The  authors  first  called  attention  to  the  fact  that,  while  there  are  numerous 
excellent  processes  for  determining  the  iron  in  this  preparation,  no  exact 
method  for  estimating  the  phosphoric  acid  in  the  compound  is  known,  since 
the  operation  is  complicated  by  the  presence  of  both  iron  and  citric  acid. 
They  first  tried  some  of  the  methods  of  estimating  phosphoric  acid  in  the 
presence  of  iron,  and  gave  preference  to  that  of  Neubauer  (Inaug.  Diss. 
Rostock,  1893).  In  estimating  official  iron  phosphate  they  examined  the 
methods  of  getting  rid  of  the  citric  acid,  and  gave  preference  to  that  in  which 
nitro-hydrochloric  acid  is  used. 
The  following  details  were  given  :  Weigh  1  to  1*5  grammes  of  iron  phosphate 
into  a  Kjeldahl  digestion  flask,  dissolve  in  25  c.c.  water,  add  10  c.c.  concentrated 
nitric  acid  and  3  c.c.  strong  hydrochloric  acid,  and  boil  until  reduced  to  5  or  10 
c.c;  transfer  to  a  beaker,  washing  the  flask  with  about  25  c.c.  of  water,  add 
250  c.c.  of  molybdate  solution  and  digest  at  400  for  four  hours.  Decant  the  clear 
liquid  through  a  small  filter  and  wash  the  precipitate,  retaining  as  much  as 
possible  in  the  beaker,  with  several  small  portions  of  molybdate  solution,  until 
the  filtrate  remains  clear  after  making  alkaline  with  ammonia,  and  therefore,  is 
free  from  iron.  The  phosphomolybdate  of  ammonia  is  now  to  be  dissolved  in 
25  c.c.  of  10  per  cent,  ammonia  water.  When  solution  has  taken  place,  it  is 
filtered  through  the  same  filter,  and  the  beaker  and  filter  washed  with  75  c.c. 
of  water.  Now  25  c.c.  magnesia  mixture  are  added,  at  the  rate  of  50  to  100 
drops  per  minute,  and  with  constant  stirring.  After  standing  eight  hours  or 
over  night,  the  precipitate  is  transferred  to  a  Gooch  filter,  using  portions  of  the 
filtrate  for  the  purpose,  and  finally  the  precipitate  is  washed  with  2*5  per  cent, 
ammonia  water  until  free  from  chlorides  (25  c.c.  are  usually  sufficient).  The 
precipitate  is  dried  thoroughly  at  ioo°  to  1200,  then  gradually  heated  to  bright 
redness,  and  retained  at  this  temperature  for  fifteen  minutes,  cooled  and 
weighed. 
All  of  the  papers  were  referred  to  the  Publication  Committee.  The  officers 
for  the  ensuing  year  were  installed,  and  a  vote  of  thanks  given  the  retiring 
officers.    The  minutes  were  read  and  approved,  and  adjournment  ordered. 
SECTION  ON  EDUCATION  AND  LEGISLATION. 
The  first  session  of  the  Section  on  Pharmaceutical  Education  and  Legislation 
met  at  3  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  August  15th.  The  Chairman, 
Prof.  Hallberg,  commenced  the  business  of  the  session  by  appointing  Messrs. 
Sheppard,  Bartley  and  Heusted  a  committee  on  his  address,  in  case  the  mem- 
bers should  desire  to  refer  it  to  such  a  body  for  consideration.  The  address 
dealt  with  the  subjects  of  education,  legislation,  physicians'  dispensing,  etc., 
and  contained  certain  recommendations  which  are  hereafter  mentioned  as  hav- 
ing been  approved  by  the  committee  to  which  the  address  was  referred. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Section  then  handed  in  his  report.  He  had  collected 
statistics  concerning  registration  of  pharmacists  and  assistants  during  the  past 
year.  Many  of  the  Boards  were  unable  to  report  and  many  would  not.  After 
careful  consideration  of  all  the  facts,  the  writer  was  of  the  opinion  that  a  State 
