^ptemberSf'}     Theses  on  Pharmaceutical  Subjects.  417 
All  gave  test  for  traces  of  sulphates,  none  contained  the  full 
amount  of  water  of  crystallization,  the  highest  being  51-7  per  cent, 
and  the  lowest  20- 1  per  cent.,  the  average  being  39  5  per  cent,  as 
against  60-3  per  cent,  required  for  the  crystallized  salt.  One  sample 
thus  contained  more  than  twice  the  amount  of  sodium  phosphate 
required  by  the  U.S. P. 
F.  A.  Butter  finds  in  seven  samples  of  Boric  Acid  a  purity  of  92-39 
to  98  47  per  cent.,  the  average  being  94-82  per  cent. ;  traces  of  sul- 
phuric acid  were  found  in  three  samples. 
Four  samples  of  borax  assayed  from  88- 1 2  per  cent,  to  98  03  per 
cent.,  the  average  being  9183  per  cent. 
H.  Seidman  finds  great  variations  in  the  strength  of  Diluted  Acetic 
Acid  obtained  from  both  wholesale  and  retail  sources. 
Three  samples  from  wholesale  stores  assayed  8-25  per  cent.,  10  44 
per  cent,  and  13  eg  per  cent. 
Three  samples  from  retail  stores  assayed  5-25  per  cent.,  5-83  per 
cent,  and  11-04  Per  cent. 
None  of  the  six  samples  showed  more  than  traces  of  impurities. 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THESES  ON  PHARMACEUTICAL 
SUBJECTS.1 
By  E.  Fuixerton  Cook. 
Suppositories.  By  William  W.  Foster,  Jr. — The  author  conducted 
a  series  of  experiments  to  determine  the  value  of  various  substances 
used  in  the  moulding  of  cacao-butter-base  suppositories,  to  prevent 
the  adherence  of  the  cooled  suppository,  and  its  subsequent 
cracking,  when  removed  by  force. 
He  used  a  formula  in  the  tests  which  required  special  care  to 
prevent  the  separation  of  a  vegetable  extract,  owing  to  the  presence 
of  tannin ;  this  particular  suppository  having  caused  considerable 
difficulty  by  sticking  to  the  moulds  and  breaking  when  they  are 
opened.  The  methods  experimented  with  to  prevent  the  difficulty 
were  the  dusting  of  the  dried  and  clean  moulds  with  lycopodium 
and  with  corn  starch  ;  also  coating  the  moulds  with  liquid  petro- 
1  The  experimental  work  embodied  iu  these  theses  was  performed  for  the 
most  part  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Laboratory  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of 
Pharmacy. 
