Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
September,  1906.  ( 
Criticisms  of  the  U.S. P. 
413 
and  in  alcohol  does  not  even  approximate  the  figures  given.  The 
specifications  given  in  the  "  Pharmacopedia  "  of  White  and  Hum- 
phrey are  much  nearer  the  truth :  "  They  (crystals  of  aloin)  are 
sparingly  soluble  in  cold  water  (i  in  400),  more  soluble  in  90  per 
cent,  alcohol  (1  in  18).  freely  soluble  in  hot  water  or  (hot)  alcohol, 
but  nearly  insoluble  in  ether."  Of  course,  as  the  term  aloin  is  not 
officially  restricted  to  Curacao  aloin,  the  pharmacopceial  restrictions 
for  this  particular  variety  are  practically  non-operative  for  aloin 
as  a  class,  and  therefore  of  no  practical  value,  but  we  regard  their 
inclusion  at  all  as  questionable,  because  they  are  supposed  to  have 
some  practical  bearing  on  official  aloins  and  are  liable  to  cause  con- 
fusion.   (Dr.  J.  M.  Francis,  in  Bull,  of  Phar.,  1905,  page  319.) 
TESTS  FOR  AMYL  NITRITE  UNSATISFACTORY. 
A  considerable  proportion  of  the  amyl  nitrite  on  the  market  is  of 
an  inferior  grade,  and  some  of  it,  from  reputable  manufacturers,  is  not 
only  worthless,  but  absolutely  a  source  of  danger  because  of  its  lack 
of  genuine  amyl  nitrite.  The  specifications  of  the  new  Pharmaco- 
poeia are  quite  elaborate,  much  more  so  than  in  any  other  authority, 
but  unfortunately  they  will  admit  a  very  poor,  in  fact  almost  a  spu- 
rious, article.  The  assay  by  measurement  of  nitrogen  produced  is 
not  sufficient,  as  we  have  in  our  possession  samples  which  meet  the 
assay  requirements,  but  which,  on  fractionation,  prove  to  contain 
very  little  amyl  nitrite.  The  specification  that  "  it  boils  at  about 
960  to  990  C."  will  not  suffice  if  this  means  that,  in  common  accept- 
ance, it  begins  to  boil  at  this  temperature.  If  this  statement  is  con- 
strued to  mean  that  the  liquid  shall  practically  all  distil  at  between 
960  and  990  C,  it  becomes  a  greater  measure  of  safety  ;  though  this 
is  not  sufficient  to  distinguish  genuine  amyl  nitrite,  and  even  if  it 
were,  it  is  too  stringent.  The  safe  and  reasonable  plan  is  to  demand 
that  the  liquid  shall  assay  at  least  80  per  cent,  by  the  process  given, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  80  per  cent,  or  more  of  the  total  volume  shall 
distil  over  between  900  and  ioo°  C.  Neither  test  is  sufficient  in 
itself,  but  together,  in  conjunction  with  the  tests  for  free  acid,  water 
and  aldehyde,  will  insure  a  high-grade  commercial  article.  Phar- 
macists will,  of  course,  remember  that  amyl  nitrite  decomposes 
readily  on  exposure,  and  will  hence  keep  their  stock  at  a  minimum. 
(Dr.  J.  M.  Francis,  in  Bull,  of  Phar.,  1905,  page  319.) 
