252  Registration  P.  C.  Phar.  in  New  York,  {^^m?™' 
Weigh  2  grammes  of  Soap  into  a  300  c.c.  flask,  add  50  c.c.  of 
alcohol,  an  excess  of  N/10  stearic  acid  in  alcohol,  a  few  drops 
of  phenolphthalein  solution:  connect  with  a  reflux  condenser  and 
place  the  whole  on  a  water  bath  for  half  an  hour.  The  stearic  acid 
should  constantly  be  in  excess,  indicated  by  the  solution  remaining 
colorless.  The  excess  of  Acid  is  determined  by  means  of  N/10 
alcoholic  KOH,  the  difference  is  the  amount  required  to  combine 
with  the  total  free  alkali  in  the  2  grammes  of  soap  taken.  1 
1  c.c.  N/10  Acid  is  the  equivalent  of  .00397  gramme  Caustic 
Soda  or  .00526  gramme  Sodium  Carbonate. 
Should  it  be  necessary  to  determine  what  quantity  of  the  above 
is  free  caustic  alkali  and  what  quantity  is  carbonated,  Devine's 
Method  provides  that  a  second  determination  similar  to  the  first 
be  started,  and  having  calculated  the  total  alkali  from  the  first  de- 
termination as  sodium  carbonate  add  barium  chloride  to  precipitate 
the  alkali,  heat  a  few  minutes  and  after  adding  phenolphthalein 
titrate  with  N/10  stearic  acid.  This  figure  represents  the  c.c.  re- 
quired to  neutralize  the  caustic  alkali  in  the  soap  and  the  difference 
between  this  and  the  total  alkali  will  correspond  to  the  carbonate. 
Refractive  Index  of  Patty  Acids. — The  determination  of  the  re- 
fractive index  of  the  fatty  acid  often  gives  valuable  information 
with  reference  to  the  origin  of  the  fat  employed  in  making  the  soap. 
This  determination  is  easily  made  if  a  refractometer  is  at  hand. 
More  tests  could  be  applied  by  the  pharmacist  to  enable  him  to 
differentiate  genuine  and  spurious  olive  oil  soaps :  The  above  in 
addition  to  being  sufficient  are  simple,  accurate  and  easily  performed 
and  should  therefore  be  considered  for  inclusion  in  the  pharma- 
copoeia. 
REGISTRATION  OF  THE  PHILADELPHIA  COLLEGE  OF 
PHARMACY  IN  NEW  YORK. 
By  John  Uri  Lloyd,  Phar.  M. 
"  At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  regents  of  the  University  of  the 
State  of  New  York  held  December  12th,  last,  the  registration  of 
the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  was  rescinded.  ...  As 
the  matter  now  stands,  a  graduate  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of 
Pharmacy  is  not  recognized  under  the  laws  of  New  York  State  as 
a  graduate  in  pharmacy,  but  must  take  an  additional  year  at  some 
