^prTi.mT'}       Pharmaceutical  Colleges,  etc.  181 
4.  Describe  officinal  acetic  acid,  giving  its  composition,  specific  gravity  and 
tests  of  purity.  State  briefly  the  method  of  obtaining  acetic  acid  from  wood 
and  the  several  names  under  which  it  is  known  in  commerce.  Also  mention 
all  the  officinal  acetates,  and  how  to  distinguish  them  from  other  salts  and 
from  each  other. 
5.  Describe  aconitia  as  found  in  the  shops;  state  how  it  is  distinguished  from 
veratria,  and  by  what  quality  it  is  recognized.  State  also  the  dose  of  aco- 
nitia, how  it  is  usually  employed,  and  name  the  officinal  preparations  to 
which  it  gives  activity. 
6.  Cive  a  brief  general  idea  of  the  constitution  of  fats  and  fixed  oils;  give  the 
process  for  making  "  Sapo''  U.  S.  P.  and  that  for  Emp  :  Plumbi,  with  the 
reactions  that  occur,  and  explain  the  manner  of  obtaining  and  purifying 
the  glycerin  of  commerce. 
7.  Describe  cantharidin,  state  its  best  solvents,  and  give  the  best  process  for 
preparing  it;  also  give  the  formula  for  Ceratum  cantharidis  and  Canthari- 
d  il  collodion. 
8.  Give  the -antidotes  for  poisoning  by  arsenious  acid,  tartar  emetic,  sugar  of 
lead,  nitrate  of  silver,  oxalic  acid  aud  water  of  ammonia,  and  state  in  what 
cases  soap  may  be  used  as  an  antidote. 
9.  Give  the  formulae  for  syrup  of  iodide  of  iron,  infusion  of  digitalis,  solution  of 
tersulphate  of  iron,  compound  mixture  of  iron,  fluid  extract  of  ergot,  and 
diluted  nitro-muriatic  acid 
10.  Give  your  reasons  why  percolation  is  to  be  preferred  to  maceration  and 
expression,  in  the  preparation  of  extracts,  fluid  extracts  and  tinctures,  and 
state  what  are  the  chief  points  to  be  observed  in  obtaining  success  by  the 
former  process. 
Questions  by  the  Examining  Committee.    Session  1872-73. 
1.  Describe  the  substance  called  "Argols"  ;  state  its  natural  source  ;  name 
the  acid  it  contains,  and  the  base  with  which  it  is  combined  ;  how  the  acid 
is  made  for  commerce  ;  what  are  the  officinal  Salts  to  which  it  contributes  ; 
and  how  may  the  acid  be  distinguished  from  all  other  organic  acids  ? 
2.  State  the  names  of  the  units  of  measures  of  Length,  Weight  and  Capa- 
city in  the  Metrical  system  ;  give  their  value  respectively  in  inches,  troy- 
grains  and  fluidounces  ;  and  mention  in  what  way  the  units  of  measure  and 
weight  are  determined. 
3.  What  is  specific  gravity?    Solve  the  following  problem  : 
Four  hundred  grains  of  Sugar  weigh  in  Oil  of  Turpentine  182  5  grains.  The 
specific  gravity  of  oil  of  turpentine  being  0'870  what  is  the  specific  gravity 
of  the  sugar  ? 
4.  How  may  Levant  and  American  wormseed  be  distinguished  from  each 
other?  from  what  plants  are  they  obtained?  and  what  causes  the  activity 
in  each  drug ? 
5.  Give  the  process  for  making  Citrine  Ointment;  explain  the  chemical  com- 
bination. 
6.  Give  the  officinal  name  of  the  plant  from  which  Extract  of  Hemlock  is 
made.  State  the  mode  of  its  preparation,  and  the  dose;  also  the  physical 
characteristics  of  the  plant.  Explain  the  manner  in  which  Remlock  pitch 
is  obtained  ;  give  its  officinal  name,  and  state  whether  it  is  derived  from  a 
different  source;  and  if  so,  give  the  botauical  name  of  the  tree  which  pro- 
duces it;  describe  its  physical  characteristics,  and  state  where  it  grows. 
What  officinal  preparation  does  Hemlock  Pitch  enter  into,  and  what  is  it 
combined  with  ?    Give  the  mode  of  preparation. 
From  what  source  do  we  obtain  Oil  of  Hemlock  of  commerce? 
Is  it  officinal  ? 
7.  (jive  the  process  for  making  Liquor  Plumbi  Subacetatis.  What  is  its  specific 
gravity?  What  officinal  preparations  does  it  enter  into?  Is  it  for  internal 
or  external  administration  ? 
