Am'o°t"il}6.Mm'}    American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  509 
Since  there  are  different  modifications  of  pepsin,  some  of  which — isopepsin 
— produce  parapeptone  instead  of  peptone,  it  is  important  to  know  that 
the  presence  of  a  small  quantity  of  table  salt  checks  this  production  quite 
effectually,  and  interferes  also  to  some  extent  with  the  production  of  true- 
peptone. 
Paste  for  labeling,  by  L.  Eliel. — 1.  Tragacanth,  1  oz.,  gum  arabic,  4  oz.,. 
water,  1  pint;  dissolve,  strain  and  add  thymol,  14  grains,  glycerin,  4  oz.,  and 
water  to  make  2  pints.    Shake  or  stir  before  using  it. 
2.  Rye  flour,  4  oz.,  alum,  £  oz.,  water,  8  oz. ;  rub  to  a  smooth  paste,  pour 
into  a  pint  of  boiling  water,  heat  until  thick,  and  finally  add  glycerin  1  oz., 
and  oil  of  cloves,  30  drops. 
3.  Rye  flour,  4  oz.,  water,  1  pint;  mix,  strain,  add  nitric  acid,  1  drachm, 
heat  until  thickened,  and  finally  add  carbolic  acid,  10  minims,  oil  of  cloves, 
10  minims,  and  glycerin,  1  oz. 
4.  Dextrin,  8  parts,  water,  10  parts,  acetic  acid,  2  parts ;  mix  to  a  smooth 
paste  and  add  alcohol,  2  parts.  This  is  suitable  for  bottles  or  wood,  but  not 
for  tin,  for  which  the  first  three  are  likewise  adapted. 
A  paste  very  similar  to  3,  but  omitting  nitric  acid  and  glycerin,  is  also- 
recommended  by  Dr.  H.  T.  Cummings. 
Noted  to  a  few  of  the  queries,  by  Dr.  H.  T.  Cummings. — The  notes  are  on 
concentrated  nitrous  ether,  ethereal  oil,  and  oil  of  cajeput,  with  quotations 
from  Gmelin's  chemistry  and  other  sources,  and  with  suggestions  deduced 
from  these  observations. 
Spirit  of  nitrous  ether,  by  Prof.  Emlen  Painter. — This  is  recommended  to  be 
made  from  pure  nitrous  ether,  and  this  to  be  prepared  by  the  action  of  ni- 
trous acid  gas  upon  alcohol.  The  gas  is  generated  from  a  mixture  of  sul- 
phuric acid,  2  lbs.,  arsenious  acid,  in  lumps,  2\  lbs.,  and  nitric  acid,  2£  lbs., 
and  is  conducted  through  an  empty  bottle,  successively  through  two  bottles 
containing  alcohol,  and  a  third  bottle  containing  water  and  sodium  bicar- 
bonate for  the  retention  of  any  free  acid,  into  the  condensing  vessel  sur- 
rounded by  ice  where  pure  nitrous  ether  is  obtained.  This  should  then  be 
mixed  with  three  times  its  weight  of  alcohol,  in  which  condition  it  may  be 
preserved.  One  part  of  this  mixture,  with  four  parts  of  alcohol,  makes 
spirit  of  nitrous  ether  of  the  pharmacopoeial  strength. 
Loss  of  alcohol  in  making  tinctures  and  fluid  extracts,  by  J.  G.  Feil. — Work- 
ing with  from  5  to  50  pounds  of  drugs,  the  loss  of  alcohol  averaged  9-8  per 
cent.;  working  with  smaller  quantities,  it  is  estimated  to  exceed  25  per  cent, 
in  some  cases. 
Concentrated  liquid  preparations  for  dilution,  by  J.  L.  Lemberger. — The 
author  considers  it  quite  feasible  to  prepare  concentrated  liquid  prepara- 
tions of  some  drugs  which  may  be  diluted  so  as  to  bring  to  the  pharma- 
copoeial strength.  The  concentrated  liquor  of  gentian  for  preparing  the  com- 
pound infusion  of  gentian  is  cited  as  an  example,  and  from  honestly 
prepared  fluid  extracts  of  ergot,  aconite  root,  or  nux  vomica,  a  wine  or  tinc- 
ture can  be  prepared,  filling  all  the  requirements  of  the  corresponding 
pharmacopoeial  preparations. 
Soluble  Essence  of  Ginger,  by  Luther  F.  Stevens. — After  a  critical  review  of 
