'^°^'j"Iriy'i885*^°^'}    Meetings  of  State  Pharmaceutical  Associations.  365 
volatility  of  camphor,  fluid  hydrastis,  aniline  dyes,  commercial  hydrobro- 
mic  acid,  disinfectants,  syrup  of  tolu,  pill  manufacture  and  removal  of 
glass  stoppers. 
The  officers  elected  were  W.  M.  Melville,  of  Sandusky,  President;  L.  C. 
Hopp,  of  Cleveland,  Secretary,  and  Chas.  Huston,  of  Columbus,  Treasurer. 
The  next  meeting  will  take  place  at  Springfield,  on  the  first  Wednesday  in 
June,  1886,  Chas.  Ludlow  being  Local  Secretary. 
Pennsylvania. — The  eighth  annual  meeting  convened  at  Erie,  June  2d, 
and  adjourned  June  4th.  Twenty  papers  were  read,  eight  of  which  related  to 
ethical  questions  and  trade  interests.  A  very  valuable  paper  on  drug  store 
insyrance,  by  M.  N.  Kline,  showed  that  the  premium  for  insurance  differs 
considerably,  and  is  almost  without  exception  much  higher  than  for  other 
merchandise,  while  the  losses  hy  fire  were  shown  to  be  too  small  to  warrant 
the  classification  of  such  stock  as  "extra  hazardous." 
Sulphuric  acid,  by  Gust.  Pile.  An  acid  containing  96  per  cent,  of  H2SO4 
approaches  in  density  nearly  to  1-835,  which  coincides  with  the  gravity 
adopted  by  the  oil  of  vitriol  makers.  Nitrous  acid,  N2O3,  is  soluble  in 
strong  sulphuric  acid,  and  in  case  of  full  saturation  increases  the  density 
to  1*860.  Nitric  acid  and  mineral  impurities  do  not  materially  affect  the 
density.  The  paper  describes,  also,  the  Glover  tower,  which  has  been 
recently  introduced  for  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid. 
Aqua  ammonice,  by  G.  W.  Kennedy.  Thirty-six  samples  were  exam- 
ined, and  with  very  few  exceptions  were  found  to  be  of  the  required  stan- 
dard ;  the  few  cases  of  deficiency  of  strength  could  be  traced  to  careless 
handling  and  keeping  in  small  quantities  in  large  vessels. 
Lithium  salts.  J.  W.  Miller  finds  that  the  benzoate,  citrate  and  salicy- 
late could  be  readily  prepared  by  the  pharmacist  so  as  to  afford  a  handsome 
profit;  but,  owing  to  the  small  quantity  used,  this  plan  would  not  be  eco- 
nomical. Home  manufacture  is,  however,  advocated  for  pharmaceuticals 
generally. 
Benzoin. — F.  H.  E.  Gleim  has  obtained  from  four  samples  of  benzoin  not 
over  If  per  cent,  of  benzoic  acid,  and  by  sublimation  much  less;  variety 
and  quality  of  the  samples  are  not  described. 
Fixed  oil  of  ergot. — J.  H.  Redsecker  ascertained  that  the  powder  left  in 
the  preparation  of  fluid  extract  of  ergot  by  the  officinal  process,  yields  with 
benzin  an  oil  which  is  identical  in  appearance  and  properties  with  the  oil 
prepared  from  the  unexhausted  drug.  It  was  stated  that  the  oil  obtained 
from  the  commercial  powdered  ergot  has  a  dark  color,  probably  due  to  the 
heat  used  for  drjing  the  ergot,  while  the  pure  oil  is  pale  yellow  or  nearly 
colorless. 
Orange  flower  water.— J.  L.  Lemberger  showed  that  orange  flowers 
gathered  in  Florida,  salted,  and  after  four  months  distilled,  yielded  a  very 
good  water. 
Powdered  extracts. — Ch.  T.  George  showed  that  the  extracts  of  colocynth, 
calumba,  krameria  and  opium  may  be  powdered  without  adding  a  diluent. 
To  other  extracts  he  added  potato  starch,  in  the  proportion  of  15  per  cent, 
to  drugs  exhausted  by  alcohol,  and  25  per  cent,  to  drugs  exhausted  with 
diluted  alcohol.  With  proper  care  such  extracts  will  remain  in  a  good,  dry 
condition  for  years. 
