Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
October,  1920. 
Current  Literature. 
753 
It  is  not  intended  as  a  substitute  for  any  method  of  treatment  nor 
is  it  meant  to  be  used  in  infant  feeding  only.  Rather  it  is  intended 
to  be  a  valuable  aid  whenever  its  use  is  indicated.  At  the  same 
time,  it  should  not  be  lost  sight  of  that  the  diet  must  contain  sufficient 
protein,  fats,  carbohydrates  and  mineral  salts  and  that  the  caloric 
value  must  be  adequate  for  the  needs  of  the  individual.  (From 
Amer.  Jour,  of  Med.  Sciences,  Phila.;  through  Jour.  Amer.  Med. 
Assoc.,  May  29,  1920.) 
CausKS  of  Rancidity  of  Coconut  Oiiv. — Two-year  storage 
tests  were  made  by  Perkins  on  thirty  samples  of  edible  coconut  oil. 
The  results  were  in  general  agreement  with  the  accepted  views  of 
rancidity  and  its  causes.  The  action  of  light  was  found  to  be  a 
powerful,  but  not  necessary,  factor  in  the  production  of  rancidity. 
Enzymes  from  the  fresh  coconut  meat  had  some  effect  on  the  keeping 
qualities  of  the  oil,  but  sterilization  was  of  doubtful  benefit.  An 
oil  of  low  initial  acidity  remained  sweet  during  two  years'  exposure 
to  air  and  light.  The  measurement  of  rancidity  is  discussed  briefly . 
(From  Philippine  Jour,  of  Science,  Manila;  through  Jour.  Amer. 
Med.  Assoc.,  May  22,  1920.) 
StkriIvIzation  of  Drinking  Watkr. — Among  the  chemicals 
investigated  by  De  Blasi  he  found  silver  fluoride  most  effectual,  but 
it  required  a  comparatively  strong  solution  and  contact  of  an  hour 
to  completely  sterilize  the  water.  The  water  is  rendered  limpid 
afterward  by  addition  of  sodium  thiosulphate.  Cattle  and  horses 
drink  water  containing  up  to  i  :  10,000  of  the  silver  fluoride  (tachiolo) 
without  reluctance  or  apparent  harm,  he  adds.  His  research  with 
sodium  hypochlorite  and  certain  other  chemicals  merely  confirms 
what  others  have  published.  (From  Annali  d'Igiene,  Rome;  through 
Jour.  Amer.  Med.  Assoc.,  May  22,  1920.) 
Rapid  Me;thod  for  the  Dktejrmination  of  Sui^phur  in  Pejtro- 
LKUM  Oils. — A.  W.  Christie  and  C.  S.  Bisson  (/.  Ind.  and  Eng. 
Chem.,  12:  171-172,  1920). — After  the  combustion  of  0.5  to  0.6 
Cm.  of  the  sample  in  a  calorimetric  bomb  with  oxygen  under  a  pres- 
sure of  30  atmospheres  for  the  determination  of  the  calorific  value, 
the  whole  of  the  sulphur  present  in  the  oil  has  been  oxidized  to  sul- 
phuric acid.  The  contents  of  the  bomb  are  washed  through  filter- 
paper  into  a  250  Cc.  beaker,  and  the  total  acidity  of  the  liquid  is 
determined  by  titration.    The  solution  is  then  made  up  to  a  definite 
