Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Jan.,  1886. 
Laboratory  Notes. 
13 
better  than  the  preceding.  The  third  sample  effervesced  slightly  with 
calcium  carbonate,  and  had  the  unusually  low  specific  gravity  '878, 
but  otherwise  answered  to  the  requirements  of  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
Acetic  ether  is  used  in  the  preparation  of  Spiritus  odoratus,  the 
pharmacopeeial  formula  for  which  would  be  improved  by  reducing 
the  oil  of  bergamot  to  14:  parts  and  increasing  the  acetic  ether  to  4 
parts.  Tinctura  ferri  acetatis,  which  contains  20  per  cent,  of  acetic 
ether  is  best  prepared  as  required  for  use,  since  it  will  gradually  pro- 
duce a  precipitate,  particularly  when  exposed  to  light. 
The  chief  use  of  acetic  ether  is  in  the  manufacture  of  artificial  fruit 
essences;  the  following  are  good  formulas: 
Artifiical  fruit  essence  of 
•  Pine  apple.        Raspberry.  Strawberry. 
Ethyl  acetate                                 4  parts         6  parts.  3  parts. 
Amyl  acetate                                 4                 1     "  4  " 
Ethyl  buty  rate                               4  "     
Chloroform                                  "   1  £*     
Spirit  of  nitrous  ether  .-.                           1  part,  1  part. 
Tartaric  acid                                                      1    "  1  " 
Tinct.  orris  root  (10  per  cent.)-- •                          24    "  24  " 
Glycerin  .-.                         24    "  24  " 
Diluted  alcohol.....   sufficient  for  200  parts. 
Commercial  Sulphate  of  Morphine. — Albert  E.  Brown,  Ph.G.,  has 
analyzed  five  commercial  samples  of  this  salt,  two  coming  from 
American  manufacturers,  one  each  from  England  and  Germany,  and 
the  fifth  was  made  by  the  author.  The  water  was  determined  by 
exsiccating  the  salts  at  a  temperature  of  130°  C.  (266°  F.);  the  sul- 
phuric acid  by  precipitation  with  barium  chloride,  and  the  solubility 
by  macerating  an  excess  of  the  salts  in  distilled  water,  weighing  the 
undissolved  portion,  and  evaporating  also  an  aliquot  portion  of  the 
filtrate  to  complete  dryness.    The  results  were  as  follows : 
No.  1,  water  8*53  per  cent. ;  sulphuric  acid  13*46  per  cent.;  soluble  in  20'40  watr 
No.  2,     "     8-02      "  .   "  "    13-52      "  «       20*61  " 
No.  3,     "  -  8'38      "  "         "  '  13-46      "  "      20*61  " 
No.  4,    "    7*80      "  "         "     13*59      "  "      21*66  " 
No.  5,    "    8*53      "  "         "     13*46      "  "      20*55  " 
Lime  Fruit  Juice. — Daniel  Herr  Hassler,  Ph.G.,  has  examined 
several  commercial  samples  of  lime  juice,  the  results  being  tabulated 
below.  The  percentage  of  free  acid  was  determined  volumetrically. 
Of  the  acids  not  mentioned  in  the  table,  oxalic  and  malic  acids  were 
not  found  in  any  one  of  the  samples.    No.  6  showed  a  trace  of  tannin, 
