Am.  Jour.  Pharm.) 
March,  1911.  / 
Standard  for  Caramel. 
113 
A  STANDARD  FOR  TINCTURE  OF  CARAMEL.* 
By  Geo.  A.  Menge. 
The  subcommittee  -  in  charge  of  color  standards  to  be  in- 
corporated in  the  new  National  Formulary  has  under  consideration 
two  methods  for  the  color  standardization  of  tincture  of  caramel ; 
by  comparing  it,  or  a  given  dilution  with  water,  with  a  solution 
having  a  readily  reproduced  color  value.  The  first  of  the  methods 
proposed  provides  for  a  comparatively  dilute  solution,  prepared  as 
follows : 
Place  0.5  Gm.  sugar  in  dry  test  tube  20  mm.  diameter.  Im- 
merse the  tube  to  a  depth  of  5  cm.  in  a  sulphuric  acid  bath, 
previously  heated  to  210°  C.  and  keep  at  that  temperature  for  20 
minutes.  Remove  the  tube  and  when  cold  dissolve  in  sufficient 
water  to  make  200  c.c.  Add  50  c.c.  alcohol  and  sufficient  water  to 
make  exactly  250  c.c." 
A  modification  of  this  method  has  been  suggested  by  Mr. 
Raubenheimer  to  the  extent  of  substituting  a  bath  of  petrolatum  at 
200°  C.  for  the  sulphuric  acid  at  210°  C. 
The  second  method  now  in  the  hands  of  the  subcommittee  as 
modified  by  Mr.  Raubenheimer,  reads  as  follows : 
"  On  a  sand  bath  heat  100  gm.  of  sugar  to  200°  C.  and  keep  at 
that  temperature  for  one  hour,  stirring  constantly — then  add  suffi- 
cient water  to  make  100  c.c.  when  cold." 
From  the  point  of  view  of  the  pharmacist  the  first  method  seems 
to  me  to  be  practically  impossible.  It  obviously  could  not,  with 
reason  or  common-sense,  be  applied  without  the  advantage  in  equip- 
ment of  a  very  effective  enclosed  hood — and  such  an  advantage, 
I  take  it,  is  not  common.  To  apply  it  without  such  equipment 
would  entail  great  discomfort,  if  not  more  serious  consequences.  The 
fumes  of  sulphuric  acid  at  210°  C.  are  abundant  and  more  or  less 
destructive,  and  their  effect  upon  fixtures,  upon  pharmacists,  and 
*  Read  at  the  meeting  of  the  City  of  Washington  Branch,  Am.  Pharm 
Ass'n.,  held  February  11,  1911. 
