314  American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  {Amjinl%Sarm' 
The  yellow  coloring  principle  of  Frasera  Walteri,  which  was  regarded  as 
identical  with  gentisin  by  Kennedy,  in  1873,  but  by  Patch,  in  1881,  was  shown 
to  differ  from  gentisic  acid  in  various  reactions,  has  been  further  examined  by 
Professors  Trimble  and  LAoyd,  who,  by  repeated  crystallization  from  strong 
alcohol,  succeeded  in  separating  it  into  at  least  two  distinct  principles,  one 
being  dark  yellow  and  fusing  at  114°  C,  while  the  other  was  in  fibre-like  light 
lemon-yellow  crystals,  having  the  melting-point  1780  C.  Both  compounds  are 
nearly  insoluble  in  water,  sparingly  soluble  in  petroleum  ether  and  benzol, 
soluble  in  alcohol,  ether,  chloroform  and  glacial  acetic  acid  ;  the  alcoholic 
solutions  are  colored  dark  green  by  ferric  salts,  and  are  not  precipitated  by  lead 
acetate  ;  solution  in  sodium  hydrate  does  not  reduce  Fehling's  test.  Two  com- 
bustions made  with  each  substance  gave  results  indicating  the  formulas 
C15H1506  and  C16H1506. 
A  lest  for  the  purity  of  lithium  salts  was  described  by  W.  L.  Scoville,  as  fol- 
lows :  2  gm.  of  the  salt,  as  lithium  citrate  for  instance,  are  placed  in  a  porce- 
lain capsule  having  the  capacity  of  40  to  50  cc,  and  slowly  ignited  until 
completely  charred,  when  the  full  flame  of  a  Bunsen  burner  is  allowed  to  play 
upon  the  bottom  of  the  capsule  until  most  of  the  organic  matter  has  been 
burned  off.  '  When  the  capsule  has  cooled,  normal  nitric  (or  hydrochloric)  acid 
is  drawn  in  from  a  burette,  slowly  at  first  to  avoid  loss  by  effervescence,  until 
an  excess  has  been  added.  After  standing  until  the  salt  has  completely  dis- 
solved, methyl-orange  indicator  is  added,  and  the  excess  of  acid  ascertained 
with  normal  soda  solution.  Treated  in  this  way,  2  gm.  of  lithium  citrate 
should  require  not  less  than  28*55  cc.  °f  normal  acid;  2  gm.  of  lithium  ben- 
zoate  not  less  than  15*6  cc,  and  2  gm.  of  lithium  salicylate  not  less  than  26"i2 
cc.    Care  must  be  taken  to  start  with  a  perfectly  dry  salt. 
Professor  Patch  had  contributed  the  following  practical  papers  : 
Unchangeable  Elixir  of  three  phosphates.  After  reviewing  several  published 
formulas,  the  following  is  suggested  : 
Solution  of  Chloride  of  Iron  U.  S.  P.  1880,   28  cc. 
Quinine  Alkaloid,    7-i28gm. 
Strychnine  Alkaloid,   '104  gm. 
Acid  Phosphoric,  50  per  cent.  ,   27  gm. 
Alcohol,   30  cc.  • 
Simple  Elixir,   300  cc. 
Syrup,  q.  s.,  to  make   473  cc. 
Mix  the  solution  of  iron  and  the  phosphoric  acid,  and  in  this  dissolve  the 
alkaloids.  To  this  add  the  syrup,  and  then  the  simple  elixir  and  alcohol, 
previously  mixed. 
This  is  not  a  very  pleasant  elixir,  nor  are  the  commercial  articles  of  the 
same  strength.  It  has  also  the  objection  of  having  very  little  color.  This 
can,  of  course,  be  remedied  by  coloring.  As  it  is  the  fashion  to  paint  quinine 
red,  this  elixir  might  be  colored  with  tincture  of  cudbear. 
The  Strength  of  commercial  acids.  The  results  of  assays,  including  impuri- 
ties present,  are  given  of  a  number  of  samples  of  sulphuric,  nitric  and  hydro- 
chloric acids  of  ordinary  commercial  quality  and  of  others  sold  as  chemically 
pure. 
Dilute  hydrocyanic  acid  was  found  to  keep  not  much,  if  any,  better  in 
