456  Alkaloidal  Assays  of  the  U.S.P.       {A  ocfober.^m"1' 
with  chloroform.  When  completely  extracted  the  strips  could  be 
removed  by  means  of  a  hooked  copper  wire. 
Extractum  Belladonnae  Foliorum  It  would  be  preferable  to 
put  an  indefinite  amount  of  extract  into  a  tared  separating  funnel 
and  determine  the  amount  of  extract  taken  by  weighing  the  funnel 
together  with  the  extract. 
Extractum  Colchici  Cormi. — The  assay  could  be  simplified  by 
weighing  the  extract  directly  into  the  separating  funnel  and,  after 
adding  ammonia,  shaking  out  the  colchicine  with  chloroform  or  a 
mixture  of  chloroform  and  ether.  The  assay  could  then  be  finished 
in  the  way  given  in  the  pharmacopoeia. 
Extractum  Nucis  Vomicae. — Here  again  the  extract  ought  to  be 
weighed  directly  into  the  separating  funnel. 
Before  the  removal  of  the  last  trace  of  chloroform  from  the  final 
residue  containing  the  strychnine  a  few  drops  of  amyl  alcohol  ought 
to  be  added  and  the  liquid  evaporated  to  dryness  by  blowing  air 
over  the  surface  of  the  vessel  while  the  latter  is  kept  on  the  water- 
bath.  Otherwise  there  is  liable  to  be  loss  of  alkaloid  by  decrepita- 
tion. As  this  simple  device  effectively  prevents  decrepitation  it 
ought  to  be  adopted. 
Extractum  Physostigmatis. — The  method  is  unnecessarily  com- 
plicated and  could  easily  be  replaced  by  a  simpler  one.1 
Extractum  Scopolae  et  E.  Stramonii. — The  remarks  given 
under  extractum  belladonnae  foliorum  apply  also  to  these  extracts. 
Fluidextractum  Aconiti. — As  said  before,  this  assay  is  unwork- 
able. The  remarks  given  under  aconite  apply  also  to  its  fluid 
extract. 
Fluidextractum  Belladonnae  Radicis. — The  method  is  good 
and  could  be  made  still  better  by  shaking  out  the  first  chloroformic 
solution  once  or  twice  more  with  acidulated  water. 
Fluidextractum  Cinchonae. — A  method  similar  to  the  one  used 
for  belladonna  fluid  extract  would  be  preferable. 
Fluidextractum  Cocae. — The  assay  method  is  very  good,  but 
could  still  be  improved  by  shaking  out  three  times  with  ether  instead 
of  twice. 
Fluidextractum  Colchici  Seminis. — The  assay  method  is  very 
good. 
See  footnote  to  aconite. 
