^ptJemb*er,hi9of '}    American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  427 
is  extracted  with  25  c.c.  of  petroleum  ether  or  ether;  the  ethereal 
solution  is  separated  and  filtered  and  the  separating  funnel  and 
filter  washed  with  sufficient  ether  or  petroleum  ether  to  yield  25  c.c. 
of  solution.  1  c.c.  of  this  solution  is  then  tested  with  the  following 
reagents  :  solution  of  chlorinated  soda,  filtered  saturated  solution  o'f 
chlorinated  lime,  chromic  acid  solution  (1  per  cent.),  solution  of  potas- 
sium bichromate  (1  per  cent.),  solution  of  potassium  permanganate 
(1  per  cent.),  solution  of  potassium  ferricyanide  (1  per  cent.),  solution 
of  ferric  chlorid  (1  per  cent.),  cold  saturated  solution  of  ammonium 
vanadate  and  sulphuric  acid,  potassium  chlorate  and  hydrochloric  acid, 
solution  of  mercuric  nitrate,  and  bromine  test  solution. 
The  author  claimed  that  by  these  tests,  especially  with  the  use  of 
solutions  of  chlorinated  lime,  he  can  detect  as  little  as  3  per  cent,  of 
acetanilid  in  phenacetin,  the  phenacetin  solution  being  yellowish 
while  the  solution  containing  acetanilid  is  colored  purplish. 
Mr.  Beringer  recommends  for  adoption  in  the  pharmacopoeia  the 
following  test :  "  1  gramme  of  phenacetin  boiled  for  one  minute  with 
3  c.c.  solution  of  sodium  hydroxide  (1  :  2),  the  solution  cooled  and 
then  agitated  with  5  c.c  solution  of  chlorinated  soda  should  remain 
a  clear  yellow  liquid.  The  production  of  purple  red  or  brown  red 
cloudy  liquid  or  precipitate  indicates  the  presence  of  acetanilid." 
The  author  claims  that  "  with  the  official  description  of  melting 
point,  Hirschsohn's  bromide  water  test  and  each  of  the  color  tests 
with  sodium  hypochlorite,  the  pharmacist  can  test  phenacetin  for 
acetanilid." 
An  Examination  of  Samples  of  Commercial  Phenacetin. 
By  George  M.  Beringer. 
The  results  of  the  author's  examination  of  commercial  samples 
showed  that  148  were  pure,  27  grossly  adulterated  and  7  slightly 
contaminated. 
Phenacetin. 
By  Lyman  F.  Kebler. 
The  history  of  the  development  of  this  chemical  was  traced  from 
the  researches  of  Cahours  to  the  filing  of  a  patent  in  this  country. 
The  patent  was  reviewed,  and  while  it  does  seem  to  be  an  unjust 
grant  of  a  monopoly,  our  present  laws  allow  such  a  privilege,  con- 
sequently the  patent  should  be  respected.    Every  possible  effort 
