A™'ctober,Ii905^m*}    American r  Pharmaceutical  Association.  493 
aqueous  solution.  Addition  to  the  reagent  of  a  trace  of  ferric  salt 
(chloride  or  sulphate)  greatly  increases  its  sensitiveness,  so  that  it 
will  give  a  color  indication  at  dilution  of  i-2,OOOpoo.  Other  alde- 
hyde bodies,  however,  react  like  formaldehyde. 
In  particular  sucrose  and  lactose  may  be  recognized,  though  not 
satisfactorily  discriminated,  by  this  reagent.  In  case  of  sucrose 
solutions  1-100-1-1,000,  the  color  is  distinctive,  the  violet  blue 
obtained,  as  from  formaldehyde,  being  surmounted  by  a  yellow 
border,  the  two  colors  contrasting  finely. 
Obviously  morphine  (codeine  and  heroine)  may  be  identified  by 
using  formaldehyde  or  sugar  as  a  reagent,  performing  the  tests 
exactly  as  when  looking  for  formaldehyde  or  sugar.  The  test  for 
formaldehyde  is  applicable  only  to  distillates,  and  then  is  only  of 
negative  value.  It  cannot  be  applied  to  milk  (before  or  after 
coagulation)  ;  neither  can  it  be  used  to  detect  glucose  in  urine. 
Method  for  the  Analysis  of  Emulsions.  By  L.  F.  Kebler  and 
Geo.  W.  Hoover.  An  examination  of  the  literature  shows  that 
little  has  been  done  on  the  analysis  of  emulsions,  and  such  results 
as  are  recorded  are  restricted  almost  exclusively  to  the  determina- 
tion of  the  fatty  portion.  Medicinal  agents  other  than  oils  may, 
however,  exert  a  beneficial  effect  and  harmful  agents  may  at  times 
be  present,  and  these  agents  must  be  taken  into  consideration. 
Further,  the  emulsifying  agent  may  or  may  not  serve  the  function 
of  a  nutritive. 
Fourteen  emulsions  of  known  composition  and  eleven  proprie- 
tary preparations  were  analyzed  as  completely  as  practicable,  and 
from  the  data  thus  obtained  a  scheme  of  analysis  has  been  formu- 
lated. The  methods  used  are  described,  and  the  analytical  data 
thus  obtained  by  these  methods  are  given  in  tabular  form. 
Vegetable  Lecithin.    By  C.  G.  Richardson. 
Pharmacological  Notes  on  Two  American  Plants.  By  A.  C. 
Crawford.  Aqueous  extract  of  Mountain  laurel  {Kalmia  latijolia) 
given  by  mouth  increases  salivary  secretion  and  causes  vomiting, 
retching,  paralysis  and  death.  Post  mortem  shows  hemorrhages 
into  intestinal  walls  or  mere  vascular  congestion.  Action  suggests 
in  some  respects  pilocarpine  group  and  the  possibility  of  substitu- 
tion medicinally,  perhaps,  after  modification  of  principle  of  laurel 
considered. 
Fluid  extract  or  aqueous  extract  of  Mistletoe  (Phoradendron 
