Am'jnne,mi^m'}^mer^can  Pharmaceutical  Association.  315 
dilute  alcohol  than  in  water ;  a  small  percentage  of  HC1  preserves  from 
change. 
Assays  of  nux  vomica.  Three  samples  of  nux  vomica,  powdered  unsteamed, 
yielded  from  12*3  to  14  per  cent,  of  extract,  3*39  to  3*9  per  cent,  alkaloids,  and 
1*64  to  2 '5  per  cent,  of  strychnine.  Five  samples  of  commercial  powdered 
nux  vomica  gave  11  to  15*3  per  cent,  extract,  1*25  to  3^04  per  cent,  alkaloids, 
and  -92  to  1 '52  per  cent,  strychnine.  Four  samples  of  fluid  extract  of  nux 
vomica  gave  10  to  12*8  per  cent,  extractive,  and  1-63  to  2-37  per  cent,  alkaloids  ; 
the  extractive  of  five  commercial  samples  of  the  fluid  extract  varied  between  3^47 
and  11  per  cent.  Eight  samples  of  extract  of  nux  vomica  varied  in  total  alka- 
loidal  strength  between  15  and  24  per  cent.;  two  commercial  specimens  yielded 
1 1 '5  and  117  per  cent,  of  alkaloids.  For  the  preparation  of  the  powdered 
extract  it  is  suggested  that  the  percolate  obtained  with  the  pharmacopceial 
menstruum  be  evaporated  to  syrupy  consistence,  while  still  warm  washed  by 
agitation  with  benzin  and  decantation,  then  mixed  with  milk  sugar,  evaporated 
to  dryness  and  powdered. 
Commercial  cinchona  barks.  The  essay  is  a  critical  study  of  the  methods 
for  determining  the  total  alkaloids  and  the  quinine. 
The  assay  of  digitalis.  Considering  the  properties  of  the  different  proxi- 
mate principles  of  more  or  less  medicinal  activity,  which  have  been  obtained 
from  digitalis,  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  devise  a  reliable  process  of  assay. 
Granular  ferrous  sulphate  is  recommended  in  the  place  of  the  pharma- 
copceial precipitated  salt.  It  is  prepared  by  dissolving  200  gm.  of  crystallized 
ferrous  sulphate  in  200  cc.  of  hot  water,  acidulated  with  100  cc.  of  diluted  sul- 
phuric acid,  filtering,  evaporating  to  350  gm.,  cooling  quickly  with  continued 
stirring,  draining  the  product  and  washing  it  with  50  cc.  of  alcohol. 
The  chairman  in  his  address  had  suggested  the  creation  of  a  special  fund  for 
aiding  in  researches  to  belaid  before  this  Section.  In  view  of  the  existence  of 
the  Centennial  Fund,  the  interest  of  which  is  available  for  this  purpose,  no 
action  was  taken  on  the  suggestion.  # 
The  Committee  of  this  Section  for  the  ensuing  year  consists  of  C.  S.  N. 
Hallberg,  Chicago,  Chairman  ;  H.  W.  Snow,  Detroit,  Secretary,  and  J.  N. 
Hurty,  Indianapolis. 
The  Section  on  Legislation  and  Education  held  its  session  on  Thursday 
evening,  Professor  Wm.  Simon  in  the  chair,  and  L.  C.  Hogan  Secretary. 
The  latter  presented  a  report  giving  a  synopsis  of  the  pharmacy  laws  passed  or 
modified  in  different  States  of  the  United  States  since  1889. 
The  chairman's  address  dwelt  upon  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  correct  and 
reliable  information  on  subjects  of  special  interest  to  the  Section  and  made 
various  suggestions  looking  towards  increased  usefulness  of  College  instruction. 
Recognition  of  College  diplomas  by  State  Pharmacy  Laws  was  the  subject  of 
the  first  paper  read  by  Professor  Remington.  It  is  impossible  to  give,  in  a 
brief  review,  the  arguments  advanced  in  favor  of  the  position  taken  by  the 
author,  and  the  causes  which,  in  his  opinion,  have  thus  far  operated  against 
such  recognition  in  a  number  of  the  States.  The  paper  was  discussed  at  con- 
siderable length,  but  without  taking  action  on  the  suggestions,  the  other 
papers  prepared  for  the  Section  were  ordered  to  be  read. 
Practical  suggestions  and  experiences  in  securing  pharmacy  laws  was  the 
title  of  a  paper  read  by  H.  R.  Slack,  of  Georgia. 
