278 
Emetine  Hydrochloride. 
Am.  Tour.  Pharm. 
May,  191 9. 
Therefore,  it  was  concluded  that  ampule  solutions  of  emetine 
hydrochloride  do  not  materially  alter  in  strength  upon  sterilization 
even  if  the  heat  employed  is  sufficient  to  cause  a  slight  darkening  of 
the  solution. 
Crystallized  emetine  hydrochloride  was  also  tested  for  its  re- 
sistance to  the  influence  of  the  degree  of  heat  ordinarily  employed 
in  sterilization. 
A  specimen  of  U.  S.  P.  emetine  hydrochloride  was  divided  into 
three  portions;  these  three  portions  were  heated  to  1200  C,  ioo°  C. 
and  8o°  C,  respectively,  until  they  ceased  to  lose  weight,  and  were 
then  assayed  volumetrically  with  the  following  results : 
Temperature  of  Per  Cent,  of  Anhydrous 
Heating.  Emetine  Hydrochlorids. 
120°     C   95-83 
ioo°   C  '..   99-6o 
8o°   C   100.02 
Therefore,  it  was  concluded  that  crystallized  emetine  hydro- 
chloride practically  withstands  ordinary  sterilization  temperatures. 
The  Effect  of  Light  on  Emetine  Hydrochloride. 
The  U.  S.  P.  directs  that  emetine  hydrochloride  be  protected 
from  light. 
Solutions  of  emetine  hydrochloride  also  require  to  be  protected 
from  light.  Experiments  showed  that  diffused  sunlight  for  a  matter 
of  weeks  is  required  to  just  appreciably  darken  solutions  of  emetine 
hydrochloride  and  direct  sunlight  for  at  least  three  hours'  duration 
is  required  to  just  appreciably  darken  solutions. 
The  Acidity  of  Emetine  Hydrochloride. 
The  hypodermic  use  of  solutions  of  emetine  hydrochloride  is 
frequently  attended  with  irritation  at  the  site  of  injection.  One  of 
the  possible  factors  contributing  to  the  irritation  is  acidity  of  the 
emetine  hydrochloride.  Some  processes  for  the  manufacture  of 
emetine  hydrochloride  finally  yield  the  salt  in  a  condition  in  which 
free  hydrochloric  acid  is  present.  If  this  free  hydrochloric  acid  is 
not  carefully  eliminated  it  will  contribute  to  the  irritation  attendant 
upon  injection. 
The  U.  S.  P.  recognizes  this  possibility  and  requires  that  emetine 
hydrochloride  in  aqueous  solution  (1  in  20)  be  only  slightly  acid  to 
