230        Recent  Literature  Relating  to  Pharmacy.  {Am-M™'f8£9arm- 
The  results  of  his  work  are  summed  up  in  the  following  tests  that 
he  recommends : 
One  gramme  of  the  balsam  is  extracted  with  ether,  the  ethereal  so- 
lution, shaken  in  separatory  funnel  with  two  lots  of  20  c.c.  2  per  cent, 
solution  of  soda  (great  care  being  used  to  prevent  emulsification) 
and  the  residue  in  funnel  shaken  twice  with  water.  The  combined 
aqueous  liquids,  after  warming  on  water-bath  to  remove  ether,  are 
acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid  and  the  resin,  thereby  precipi- 
tated, collected  on  a  tared  filter,  washed  free  from  chlorides  and  dried 
at  8o°,  must  not  weigh  more  than  0-28  gramme. 
The  ethereal  solution  remaining  in  funnel,  evaporated  from  an 
Erlenmeyer  flask  on  water-bath  and  heated  for  at  least  a  half  hour 
after  free  from  ether,  after  twelve  hours'  rest  in  a  desiccator,  should 
weigh  not  less  than  o-6o  gramme.  H.  V.  Arny. 
CINNAMEIN. 
This  cinnamein,  mixed  with  50  c.c.  normal  alcoholic  potassa, 
after  standing  an  hour  by  itself  and  warming  an  hour  on  water- 
bath,  on  addition  of  enough  water  to  dissolve  the  separated  potas- 
sium salt,  is  titrated  with  ^  normal  hydrochloric  acid — phenol- 
phtalein  being  the  indicator.  The  difference  between  cubic  centi- 
metres of  acid  used  and  50,  multiplied  by  0-0056,  gives  the  quantity 
of  potassa  necessary  for  saponification  of  the  cinnamein.  One 
gramme  cinnamein  should  require  not  less  than  0-235  gramme 
potassa  (ester  number,  235). 
The  neutralized  solution,  after  evaporation  of  alcohol  on  water- 
bath  and  cooling,  when  shaken  with  potassium  permanganate,  smells 
strongly  of  benzaldehyde. 
The  author  found  in  the  balsam,  vanillin  and  a  principle  smelling 
like  coumarin.  The  latter,  however,  was  in  too  small  quantity  for 
absolute  identification.  He  also  examined  wood,  bark  and  legumes 
of  Myroxylon  Pareirae,  finding  in  all  coumarin  and  cinnamic  acid. 
H.  V.  A. 
SOLUTION  OF  ALUMINUM  ACETATE. 
Candussio  (Pharm.  Zeit,  1898,  481)  discusses  that  difficult  prepa- 
ration solution  of  aluminum  acetate  P.  G.,  recommending  as  the 
easiest  method  of  manufacture — addition  of  acetic  acid  to  the  cal- 
cium carbonate  and  pouring  this  into  the  solution  of  aluminum  sul- 
phate. He  disapproves  of  the  pharmacopceial  maceration  for 
twenty-four  hours,  urging  immediate  filtration.    The  official  prepa- 
