380        Pennsylvania  Pharmaceutical  Association.  {A^gusM906fm* 
of  1  gramme  of  a  drug,  is  not  correct  in  all  cases,  as  shown  by  the 
fluid  extract  of  aconite,  hydrastis,  nux  vomica,  pilocarpus,  ipecac, 
conium,  colchicum,  and  hyoscyamus.  Second  :  Many  of  the  so-called 
10  per  cent,  tinctures  do  not  represent  exactly  10  per  cent,  of  the  drug, 
such  as  tinctures  of  stramonium,  aconite,  hyoscyamus,  colchicum, 
physostigma,  hydrastis,  cinchona,  and  nux  vomica.  Third:  In  the 
case  of  extracts  there  is  noted  the  same  variations  from  the  com- 
monly accepted  strength  as  compared  with  the  drug.  Fourth:  The 
alkaloidal  factor,  as  given  in  each  assay  process,  does  not  always 
coincide  with  the  factor  as  given  in  the  tables  under  the  volumetric 
solutions.  Fifth  :  An  interesting  tabulation  is  given  of  the  amount 
of  decinormal  acid  neutralized  in  each  assay  process. 
Some  Novelties  in  Analytic  Methods. 
By  Prof.  Henry  Leffmann. 
First :  Precipitant  for  nitrates ;  a  new  compound  has  been  dis- 
covered which  produces  a  white  flocculent  precipitate  in  dilute  solu- 
tion of  nitrates.  The  systematic  name  of  the  body,  which  is  a  com- 
plex pyrrhol  derivative,  is  diphenyi  endanilo-dihydrotriazol,  which 
has  wisely  been  given  the  common  name  of  nitron.  The  weight  of 
the  precipitate  collected  from  a  solution  cooled  to  zero  centigrade 
collected  and  weighed  on  the  tared  filter  multiplied  by  a  point 
167  —  HNO3.  Second:  a  volumetric  determination  of  sulphates 
is  described,  which  depends  upon  the  fact  that  benzadin  sulphate  is 
very  sparingly  soluble  in  water  and  acids,  and  that  benzadine  hydro- 
chloride can  be  titrated  like  a  free  acid  with  sodium  hydroxide, 
using  phenolphthalein  as  an  indicator.  Third  :  The  detection  of 
potassium  by  a  new  precipitant  found  in  the  commonly  used  photo- 
graphic developer  called  eikonogen,  which  is  a  sodium  naphthol 
sulphinate.  This  reagent  is  sufficiently  delicate  to  detect  the  potas- 
sium radical  in  cold  solutions  of  potassium  chlorate  and  potassium 
acid  tartrate.  Fourth:  The  detection  of  ammonium  compounds  by 
a  method  more  delicate  than  an  assay  test  is  accomplished  by  the 
addition  of  a  few  drops  of  a  10  per  cent,  solution  of  potassium 
iodide  followed  by  a  solution  of  sodium  hypochloride  added  drop 
by  drop,  in  the  presence  of  even  very  small  amounts  of  ammonium 
compounds  a.  brown  precipitate  of  the  so-called  nitrogen  iodine  is 
formed.  Fifth :  The  reaction  with  sesame  and  hydrochloric  acid 
can  be  used  for  detecting  cane  sugar  in  milk  sugar,  since  the  latter 
