520  Assay  Processes  of  the  U.  S.  P.  -f 
J'  I  I  November,  1911,  II 
This  can  be  effected  only  by  evaporating  the  solution  in  a  platinum 
dish  or  by  adding  a  suitable  catalyzer,  such  as  platinum  black,  etc. 
Asafwtida. — Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  this  article,  it  would  be 
advisable  to  decrease  the  percentage  of  alcohol  soluble  matter,  and 
to  increase  the  allowable  percentage  of  ash. 
Aspidimn. — The  activity  of  this  drug  depends  almost  entirely 
on  those  substances  present  in  what  is  generally  termed  "  crude 
filicin."  A  reliable  method  has  been  worked  out  for  determining- 
crude  filicin.  The  macroscopic  requirements  given  in  the  present 
U.S. P.  will  be  met  by  a  physiologically  inactive  drug  also. 
Belladonna  Root  and  Leaves. — The  assay  process  adopted  for  the 
new  U.S. P.,  viz.,  the  aliquot  part  method,  has  a  decided  advantage 
over  the  present  process,  and  gives  very  satisfactory  results. 
Fluidextract  and  Extract  of  Belladonna. — The  assay  processes 
for  these  preparations  are  satisfactory.  It  is,  however,  advisable  to 
increase  the  amounts  of  both  the  immiscible  solvents  and  the  acidu- 
lated water. 
Cantharis  and  Its  Preparations. — These  should  be  assayed.  Sev- 
eral reliable  methods  have  recently  been  published.  A  suitable 
menstruum  for  preparing  the  tincture  should  also  be  looked  for,  as 
by  the  present  menstruum  only  about  50  per  cent,  of  the  cantharidin 
is  extracted  from  the  drug  when  used  in  the  proportion  1:1. 
Capsicum. — We  have  met  with  several  specimens  of  inferior 
capsicum.    Why  not  give  and  estimate  the  percentage  of  oleoresin? 
Cinchona. — For  the  U.S. P.  IX,  unfortunately,  an  assay  process 
has  been  proposed,  which  is  similar  to  the  one  now  official,  differing 
from  it  only  by  the  larger  amount  of  menstruum  taken  for  extracting 
the  alkaloids  from  the  drug.  Although  this  is  a  step  in  the  right 
direction,  we  doubt  very  much  whether  the  increased  quantity  of 
menstruum  will  hold  in  solution  the  alkaloids  from  high-grade 
drugs.  The  Fromme  process,  depending  on  the  breaking  up  of  the 
cells  by  the  use  of  hydrochloric  acid,  has  always  given  us  satis- 
factory results.  It  is  a  short  one,  and  a  determination  can  easily 
be  carried  out  in  two  hours.  That  such  a  process  is  of  great  im- 
portance to  chemists  who  have  to  make  a  dozen  or  more  cinchona 
assays  at  the  same  time  (as  in  our  laboratory,  when  numerous 
samples  for  purchasing  the  drug  are  submitted)  is  obvious.  We 
wish  to  mention  again  that  the  alkaloidal  residue  should  be  dried 
at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  60°  to  70°  C,  as  otherwise  it  is 
strongly  discolored.    Any  traces  of  chloroform  should  be  driven 
