446  Detection  of  Water  in  Alcohol  {Ams^;Ip8^n' 
be  at  least  as  effectual  as  other  vermifuges  which  had  been  previously 
given. 
The  results  of  his  observations  and  experiments  lead  the  author  to 
the  following  conclusions  : 
1.  The  activity  of  the  bark  resides  in  the  liber,  and  this  alone 
should  be  employed. 
2.  The  active  principle  is  a  yellowish-white  resin. 
3.  The  drug  is  one  of  the  best  anthelmintics,  and  a  fluid  extract, 
prepared  with  diluted  alcohol,  or  a  tincture,  would  be  a  valuable  prepar- 
ation that  would  seem  to  deserve  a  place  in  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
The  DETECTION  of  MINUTE  QUANTITIES  of  WATER 
in  ALCOHOL. 
By  Henry  G.  Debrunner,  F.C.S.,  Professor  of  Chemisrry,  Pittsburg  College  of 
Pharmacy. 
In  the  course  of  a  series  of  experiments  on  the  action  of  potassic 
permanganate  on  cold  alcohol,  I  noticed  that  strictly  absolute  alcohol, 
C3H60,  does  not  dissolve  any  of  the  above  named  salt,  the  alcohol 
remaining  entirely  colorless.  The  addition  of  one  drop  of  distilled 
water  to  10  cc.  of  absolute  alcohol  instantly  produces  the  partial  solu- 
tion of  a  small  crystal  of  the  permanganate,  which  is  indicated  by  the 
coloration  of  the  liquid.  The  intensity  of  color  in  this  case  was  strong 
enough  to  be  still  visible  on  diluting  said  10  cc.  with  20  additional  cc. 
of  absolute  alcohol,  thus  making  the  total  bulk  30  cc,  about  one  fluid- 
ounce,  which  would  indicate  a  sensibility  of  this  test  for  water  in  alco- 
hol equal  to  0*05  per  cent.  It  is  difficult  to  find  absolute  alcohol  in 
the  market  that  will  stand  this  test ;  if  obtained  or  made  by  further 
rectification  it  will,  when  used,  soon  absorb  enough  moisture  from  the 
air  to  betray  it  on  testing.  Ccommercial  95  per  cent,  alcohol, 
which,  however,  actually  only  contained  93  per  cent,  of  C2HgO, 
became  strongly  colored  and  looked  distinctly  darker  than  a  carefully 
prepared  95  per  cent,  alcohol,  which  was  tested  at  the  same  time.  An 
attempt  to  base  a  colorimetric  method  upon  this  observation  failed  as 
below  90  per  cent.  C2HeO  a  reaction  between  the  reagent  and  the 
alcohol  takes  place,  whereby  the  solution  becomes  turbid.  It  still 
might  be  accomplished  with  a  salt  soluble  in  dilute  alcohol  and  water, 
thus  coloring  the  same,  but  insoluble  in  absolute  alcohol  and  chemically 
