Am.  Jour.  Pharm.\ 
March.  1891.  f 
Ti?icture  of  Nux  Vomica. 
117 
hydrochloride,  the  hydrochlorate  of  quinine  of  the  pharmacopoeia. 
In  the  writer's  opinion,  the  proper  title  for  the  latter  should  be  qui- 
nine hydrochloride,  and  for  the  acid  salt  quinine  bihydrochloride. 
A.  Clermont  (Year  Book  of  Pharmacy,  1888-84)  states  normal 
hydrochloride  of  quinine  C20H24N2O2,2HCl  is  readily  obtained  in 
solution,  either  by  mixing  equivalent  solutions  of  normal  quinine 
sulphate  and  barium  chloride,  or  by  adding  an  equivalent  of  hydro- 
chloric acid  to  a  solution  of  basic  quinine  hydrochloride.  The  solu- 
tion obtained  by  either  process  when  evaporated  to  dryness  below 
ioo°  C.  yields  the  normal  salt. 
In  my  opinion  the  following  is  the  best  method  of  preparing  this 
salt  : 
Quinine,  precipitated,  washed  and  dried  at  a  temperature 
not  exceeding  500  to  520  C.  (i2o°-i25°  F.),  37 '8  gm. 
Hydrochloric  acid,  sp.  gr.  i"i6,  22*82  gm. 
Water,  60  cc. 
Mix  the  acid  and  water,  add  the  quinine,  filter  if  necessary,  and 
carefully  evaporate  to  dryness. 
Schorlemmer  (Chemistry  of  Carbon  Compounds,  page  478)  states 
normal  quinine  hydrochloride  does  not  crystallize  well,  and  is  decom- 
posed by  water  into  the  basic  salt  and  free  acid.  By  adding  platinic 
chloride  to  its  solution  the  double  salt  C20H24N2O2(HCl)2  -f  Pt2 
Cl4  -j-  H20  is  obtained ,  as  a  pale  yellow  precipitate,  which  on 
standing  changes  into  orange-red  crystals. 
ON  TINCTURE  OF  NUX  VOMICA. 
By  Alfred  B.  Taylor. 
Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  Feb.  17. 
It  has  been  suggested  that  Tincture  of  Nux  Vomica  should  be 
made  by  dissolving  the  solid  extract  in  alcohol.  Would  such  a 
change  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  be  desirable  ? 
An  affirmative  answer  to  this  query  would  at  first  sight  appear  to 
be  the  proper  one,  and  it  might  be  thought  to  be  an  improvement 
on  the  present  official  process.  Since  the  Pharmacopoeia  directs  that 
the  tincture  shall  contain  two  grains  of  dry  extract  in  each  100 
grains  of  tincture,  and  the  extract  can  be  readily  obtained,  much 
time  and  trouble  would  be  saved  by  the  change. 
The  tendency  of  modern  pharmacy  is  towards  greater  accuracy 
