446 
An  Adulterated  Gamboge. 
{ A  in.  Jour.  Pharm. 
1  September,  1898. 
made  by  upright  condensation,  of  which  one  sample  contains  about 
0  07  per  cent,  of  oil,  and  the  other  almost  0  09  per  cent.  This  can 
be  understood  when  it  is  stated  that  neither  sample,  despite  re- 
peated filtrations,  were  absolutely  clear,  and  that  sample  a  was  a 
trifle  more  opalescent  than  sample  b.  In  each  case,  control  experi- 
ments were  made,  and  the  only  deviation  was  in  the  assay  of 
sample  a,  made  by  upright  condensation,  when  between  the  two 
estimations  there  was  a  difference  of  c.c.  decinormal  solution, 
or  a  difference  of  0-003  per  cent. 
Provided  an  aqueous  solution  of  oil  of  gaultheria  can  be  taken 
as  typical  of  all  aromatic  waters,  the  following  conclusions  may 
be  deduced  : 
(1)  The  quantity  of  oil  actually  dissolved  by  water  is  so  small, 
that  the  various  processes  have  but  little  advantage  over  each 
other  on  the  score  of  strength. 
(2)  The  cotton  process  yields  a  product  no  stronger  than  that 
made  by  simple  agitation. 
(3)  Hot  solution  yields  the  most  concentrated  product,  and 
even  this,  when  absolutely  clear,  will  be  scarcely  stronger  than 
the  calcium  phosphate  product. 
Cleveland,  O.,  August  6,  1898. 
"  AN  ADULTERATED  GAMBOGE. 
By  J.  F.  Wooi,siCy. 
Gamboge  is  obtained  in  the  market  as  block  or  mass,  pipe  and 
powdered ;  the  powdered  form  being  made  from  block  and  broken 
pipe.    The  latter,  alone,  will  be  considered. 
As  usually  obtained,  it  is  of  a  bright  orange-yellow  color,  contain- 
ing 70-80  per  cent,  resin,  3-4  per  cent,  ash,  moisture  4-6  per 
cent.,  and  gum.  A  good  gamboge  contains  75  per  cent,  resin.  A 
trace  of  starch  is  usually  found,  but,  owing  to  the  method  of  collect- 
ing and  packing,  is  not  considered  an  adulteration. 
Recently  a  lot  of  powdered  drug  was  examined  which  was  grossly 
adulterated.  The  color  of  the  lot  was  more  of  a  dull  ochre  than 
orange — scarcely  noticeable  unless  compared  with  a  good  article. 
Upon  treatment  with  alcohol  of  95  per  cent.,  less  than  40  per 
cent,  was  soluble,  leaving  over  50  per  cent,  undissolved  on  the  filter. 
Starch  or  flour  would  seem  to  be  the  most  natural  adulterant,  and 
