133 
Progress  in  Pharmacy. 
(  Alp.  Jour.  Pharm 
March,  1903. 
may  arise  from  and  the  incongruities  of  the  system  of  weights  and 
measures  in  use  in  English-speaking  countries  are  well  illustrated 
by  the  controversy  that  has  been  carried  on  in  the  Pharmaceutical 
Journal  (London,  1902)  as  to  what  should  be  dispensed  when  a  solid 
is  prescribed  by  writing  5j  \  several  of  the  correspondents  assert  an 
ounce  of  437-5  grains  is  intended,  while  others  maintain  that  480 
grains  is  the  only  ounce  to  which  the  5  sign  is  applicable. 
Test-Papers. — The  Pharmaceutische  Centralhalle  (1902,  page  416) 
describes  a  new  test-paper,  made  by  Dietrich,  that  has  red  and  blue 
litmus  in  strips  on  the  same  paper.  It  is  said  to  be  prepared  on 
a  specially  designed  machine,  and  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  the 
acid  litmus  affecting  the  blue  strip,  the  two  are  separated  by  an 
isolating  body  like  ceresin  or  paraffin. 
The  advantages  of  such  a  paper  are,  of  course,  that  the  two  tests 
are  made  simultaneously.  It  is  further  suggested  that  the  same 
idea  could  be  so  elaborated  that  three  or  more  test-papers  could  be 
combined,  m  this  way  facilitating  the  testing  of  a  number  of 
solutions. 
Detection  of  Curcuma  in  Powders. — For  this  Albert  E.  Bell 
[Pilar.  Jour,  1902,  page  551)  recommends  the  use  of  diphenylamine 
as  a  reliable  test,  curcuma  giving  with  this  test  a  reddish. purple 
color  not  given  by  any  other  vegetable  substance,  so  far  as  known 
to  the  writer.    Bell  prepares  the  test-solution  as  follows  : 
Diphenylamine,  I  gramme;  alcohol,  20  c.c;  sulphuric  acid, 
25  c.c. 
One  drop  of  the  reagent  is  put  on  a  slide,  placed  under  the  micro- 
scope and  then,  by  means  of  a  glass  rod,  a  small  quantity  of  the 
powder  to  be  tested  is  added.  As  little  as  1  in  200  of  curcuma  in 
rhubarb  and  I  in  100  of  curcuma  in  mustard  were  detected  by  Mr. 
Bell. 
Ointments. — The  Pharmaceutische  Centralhalle  (1902,  page  605) 
calls  attention  to  the  separation  of  ointments  containing  insoluble 
ingredients,  especially  ointments  made  with  petrolatum.  On  stand- 
ing these  ointments  have  a  tendency  to  separate  ;  it  is  advisable, 
therefore,  that  ointments  should  be  repeatedly  mixed,  especially 
before  dispensing,  so  as  to  insure  their  homogeneity. 
Mercuric  Ointment. — To  determine  the  amount  of  mercury  in 
this  ointment  G.  Pegurier  [Phar.  Zeitg.,  1902,  page  956,  from  L  Union 
P/iar.)  recommends  weighing  an  accurately  measured  quantity  of 
