n«rer,mr-}  P'^^'--  conference.  495 
method,  which  consists  in  reducing-  the  amount  of  water  in  the 
preparation  to  a  minimum,  as  giving  effectual  resuhs : 
Almond  oil    3  ozs. 
Olive  oil    8  ozs. 
Strong  solution  of  ammonia  (0.880  of  commerce)   i  oz. 
Note  on  Spirit  of  Nitrous  Ether. 
By  D.  B.  Dott. 
The  author  makes  the  proposition  that  no  spirit  of  nitrous  ether 
should  be  kept  in  stock  at  all  because  of  liability  to  deterioration. 
As  is  well  known  this  loss  is  occasioned  by  the  volatilization  of  ethyl 
nitrite.  He  advises  the  use  of  two  solutions,  like  Fehling  No.  i  and 
No.  2  for  the  extemporaneous  preparation  of  this  spirit ;  the  pro- 
cedure being  to  mix  a  5^  dram  of  solution  of  sodium  nitrite  with  7^ 
drams  of  acidified  alcohol  to  make  i  oz.  of  spirit  of  nitrous  ether. 
He  also  suggests  the  use  of  lactic  acid  for  acidifying  the  alcohol. 
Note  on  Bartsia  Odontites. 
By  H.  Finnemore  and  G.  E.  Town. 
Bartsia  Odontites  is  a  very  common  wayside  plant  of  the  natural 
order  of  Scrophiilariacece^  and  although  no  toxicity  has  been  ascribed 
to  it,  it  is  well  known  to^  be  avoided  by  cattle.  The  authors  bearing 
in  mind  the  fact  that  plants  botanically  related  often  contain  similar 
chemical  constituents,  it  occurred  to  them  that  this  relative  of  digi- 
talis might  possibly  be  worthy  of  pharmacological  as  well  as  chemical 
investigation. 
Fourteen  pounds  of  the  whole  plant  were  collected  when  in 
flower,  dried  in  the  sun,  and  completely  extracted  with  hot  alcohol 
in  a  continuous  extraction  apparatus.  The  resulting  solution  was 
concentrated  and  a  sample  tested  on  frogs.  It  was  shown  tliat  it  had 
no  poisonous  or  digitalis-like  effect.  On  allowing  the  alcohol  solu- 
tion to  stand  twenty-four  hours  a  fairly  large  amount  of  crystalline 
jnatter  separated  in  a  nearly  pure  condition.  The  crystals  proved 
to  be  mannitol.  Identification  was  obtained  by  their  composition, 
melting-point,  and  by  their  acetyl  derivative. 
Other  papers  read  at  Conference  were :  "  The  Moisture  and  Ash- 
content  of  Medicinal  Extracts,"  by  K.  C.  Allen  and  Theo.  Brewis  ; 
"  N'ote  on  Arsenates  of  Stryclminc,"  by  I).  Vk  Dott;  "Note  on 
Stryclininc  1 1  ypo])hospliite."  by  1).  B.  Dott;  "  Note  on  Solution  of 
