234        Pharmaceutical  Notes  from  Purdue  University.  {Am,May?Sarm* 
wards  determined  volumetrically  by  one-fifth  normal  oxalic  acid. 
The  results  are  as  follows  : — 
Per  cent,  chloral 
Boiling  Solidifying   hydrate  found     Reaction  with  nitrate 
point.        point.         by  titration.  of  silver. 
No.  1         Neutral.  98°  C.  49-8°  100-0  Clear. 
No.  2         Acid.  98°  48°  98'5  Distinct  opalescence. 
No.  3         Slightly  acid.  98°  48°  98'0  Clear. 
No.  4         Acid.  97°  48°  99'3  Distinct  opalescence. 
All  were  completely  volatilized  when  heated  on  platinum  foil,  were 
free  from  blackening  when  warmed  with  sulphuric  acid,  and  yielded 
no  iodoform  in  testing  for  alcoholate. 
Nos.  1  and  3,  in  saccharoid  masses,  were  more  readily  soluble  iD 
water  than  No.  2,  which  was  in  crystals. 
Numerous  experiments  convince  me  that  chloral  hydrate  is  com- 
patible with  alcohol  in  presence  of  bromides  of  potassium,  sodium  or 
ammonium.    The  following  mixture  gave  no  precipitate  : — 
Potassii  bromidum, 
Chloral  hydrate  aa   gr.  90 
Alcohol  (94  per  cent.)   gii. 
Aqua   ^iv. 
VII.  ClMICIFUGA. 
Some  doubt  having  been  expressed  in  regard  to  the  crystallizable 
principle  announced  by  Conard  in  1871,  his  process  was  carefully 
followed  ;  and  though  several  pounds  of  the  well-preserved  drug  Avere 
used,  no  crystals  could  be  obtained.  The  result  was  confirmed  by 
Prof.  Coblentz  in  his  examination  of  cimicifugin.  See  Lloyd's 
Drugs  and  Medicines  of  North  America. 
VIII.  Gylcerinum. 
Twenty  samples  were  tested  and  conformed  very  nearly  to  the 
requirements  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  though  a  very  slight  excess  of 
moisture  is  indicated  in  several  instances.  One  sample  had  a  dis- 
agreeable odor ;  one  also  had  some  color,  and  gave  distinct  reaction 
with  silver  nitrate  within  half  an  hour.  The  manufacturers  main- 
tain a  high  standard  of  excellence,  and  retailers,  so  far  as  observed,, 
do  not  adulterate  the  goods  in  their  stores.  The  full  paper,  describ- 
ing in  detail  the  methods  of  examination  adopted  and  the  character  of 
the  several  samples,  will  be  found  in  Proceedings  A.  P.  A.  for  1885, 
p.  486,  and  in  American  Druggist  for  October,  1885. 
(To  be  concluded  in  the  June  number). 
