372 
Hydrastis  Canadensis. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Aug.,  \m>. 
by  the  alkaloid  represents  0-00383  gram  hydrastine  and  this 
amount  multiplied  by  40  equals  the  percentage  in  the  drug.  In  all 
my  results  here,  I  have  worked  duplicate  assays  and  have  also 
tried  several  duplicate  assays  for  the  hydrastine  by  the  following 
modifications  which  have  given  equal  results,  and  being  much 
shorter,  feel  confident  that  it  will  prove  the  better  method  of  the 
two.    It  is  as  follows  :  . 
After  neutralizing  filtrate  from  berberine  estimation  and  reducing 
to  a  small  volume,  it  is  mixed  with  8  or  10  grams  of  sawdust 
(formerly  treated  with  acid  water  and  alcohol  to  remove  extractive 
matter),  the  mixture  dried,  placed  in  a  suitable  4  oz.  flask  or  bottle 
and  100  cc.  of  modified  Prollius  mixture1  added.  After  macerating 
several  hours,  with  frequent  shaking,  50  cc.  of  the  clear  ethereal 
fluid  is  transferred  to  a  beaker,  evaporated  to  dryness  at  a  low 
temperature,  redissolved  in  acid  water  and  ether,  and  transferred 
to  a  2  oz.  prescription  vial  and,  from  this  step  on,  treated  the  same 
as  in  the  other  process. 
Examination  of  Ground  Drug. 
Number. 
Per  cent,  berber- 
ine calculated 
from  dried  (1050 
C.)  berb.  muri- 
ate. 
Per  cent.  Hydras- 
tine by  weight. 
Per  cent,  hydras- 
tine   by  titra- 
tion with  N-100 
H2S04. 
3 '3 
2'0 
176 
4-15 
2'8 
2-50 
3*i3 
2-52 
2-3 
3*24 
2-32 
2'I 
3-48 
27 
2'5 
3-89 
248 
2-25 
7,  
4-06 
28 
2*5 
3-0 
2-3 
218 
3'i 
2'3 
2.16 
Average,  .... 
3-48 
247 
2-27 
The  above  results  are  much  higher  in  the  berberine  and  hydras- 
tine than  any  recorded.    Lloyd  reports  in  Drugs  and  Medicines  of 
cc. 
1  Ether,  250 
Chloroform,  100 
Alcohol,  25 
Cone.  Ammonia,  .  .  •  •  10 
