328  Ohio  Wine,  Argols  and  Tartaric  Acid.       { ^'"juiy^S's'''"""* 
With  a  decinormal  solution  of  soda  number  one  gives  99*43  per  cent., 
number  two  99'42  per  cent.,  number  three  99*75  per  cent,  number 
four  99*50  per  cent,  number  five  99*49  per  cent.,  an  average  of  99*518 
per  cent.  Number  three  was  estimated  twice.  The  Pharmacopoeia 
requirement  that  "  on  ignition  they  should  leave  not  more  than  -05 
per  cent,  of  ash  "  was  next  tried  with  the  following  results  ;  Number 
one  *08  per  cent.,  number  two  *06  per  cent.,  number  three  *07  per 
cent.,  number  four  '06  per  cent.,  number  five  *06  per  cent.,  an  average 
of  *066  per  cent.,  thus  being  a  little  above  the  requirement.  The 
result  with  number  one  being  the  highest,  it  was  estimated  twice  thus 
giving  confirmatory  proof  that  the  work  was  correct.  Only  a  trace  of 
moisture  was  found  in  three  of  the  samples  when  heated  to  100°  C. 
until  a  constant  weight  was  obtained. 
The  ash  of  all  were  found  to  be  free  from  copper  by  treatment  with 
a  few  drops  of  water  of  ammonia,  nor  on  the  addition  of  one  drop  of 
ammonium  sulphide  was  lead  or  iron  found.  No  precipitate  was  shown 
after  five  minutes  on  the  addition  of  1  cc.  of  test  solution  of  barium 
chloride  to  10  cc.  of  a  concentrated  solution  of  the  acid  with  excess  of 
hydrochloric  acid,  and  after  about  ten  minutes  was  any  cloudiness 
noticed.  The  ash  of  number  four  was  tinted  brown,  but  did  not  given 
any  reaction  with  water  of  ammonia  or  ammonium  sulphide. 
Summing  up  the  above  resuhs  commercial  tartaric  acid  from  reliable 
sources  is  certainly  very  pure,  and  with  the  exception  of  leaving  a 
slight  amount  of  ash  more  and  falling  a  little  below  in  its  percentage 
of  acid,  fills  the  requirements  of  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
Alveloz  is  the  name  of  a  plant  which  has  been  sent  by  the  American 
Consul  at  Pernambuco  to  the  State  Department,  with  the  statement  that 
it  belongs  to  the  euphorbiacese,  and  that  several  cases  of  alleged  cancer 
had  been  cured  by  its  application.  Unlike  cundurango,  which  was  an 
alleged  internal  remedy  for  cancer  and  syphilis,  alveloz  is  an  external 
application.  Its  mode  of  operation  is  similar  to  that  of  jequirity.  A 
profuse  suppuration  follows  its  application  to  a  granular  surface.  The 
drug  was  used  in  Washington  by  Dr.  Smith  Townshend  in  a  case  of 
lupus  of  the  nose,  which  was  of  nearly  forty  years'  standing,  and  had 
resisted  all  previous  treatment.  The  ulcer  was  cured  within  a  few 
days.— iV.  Y.  Med.  Jour. 
