A%Ju°gu,;'i87h6arm"}  Contributions  from  the  School  of  Pharmacy,  etc.  359 
proportion  of  morphia  remains  in  the  mother  liquors  of  the  gravimetric 
processes  is  strongly  supported  by  the  results  of  the  volumetric  method. 
Here  weighable  portions  of  the  alkaloid  do  not  escape  determination, 
and  no  non-alkaloidal  matter  obtains  determination.  Other  alkaloids, 
however,  may  be  included,  notwithstanding  the  use  of  benzene.  Also, 
the  execution  of  the  volumetric  process  may  suffer  appreciable  variations. 
At  any  rate,  it  must  be  held  that  the  greatest  exactness  is  attainable 
by  the  volumetric  method. 
III.  Valuation  of  Powdered  Ipecacuanha  Root  and  Do  ver  s  Powder,  as  found  in 
the  Market.    By  T.  M.  Stewart,  Ph.C. 
All  the  specimens  were  obtained  from  different  retail  drug  stores  in 
Detroit  and  Jackson,  Michigan. 
The  ipecacuanha  was  assayed  by  the  process  lately  recommended  by 
Dragendorff,1  the  drug  being  extracted  first  by  acidulated  water,  and 
then  by  alcohol,  the  pectin  filtered  out  from  the  concentrated  solution, 
when  the  alkaloid  is  either  determined  volumetrically  by  potassium 
mercuric  iodide  or  extracted  by  chloroform  or  benzene  in  presence  of 
barium  carbonate,  and  the  residue  thereof  weighed.  (One  c.c.  Mayer's 
solution  precipitates  0*0189  gram  emetia.) 
Both  volumetric  and  gravimetric  ways  were  found  to  give  concur- 
ring duplicate  results,  and  the  two  ways  gave  results  corresponding 
closely  with  each  other  ;  but  the  volumetric  method  leaves  less  danger 
of  loss  in  operating.    Two  grams  were  taken  each  time. 
POWDERED  IPECACUANHA. 
No.  1.     175  per  cent,  emetia.  No.  5.     1*90  per  cent,  emetia. 
"    2.     1-45       "  "  "    6.     2*00       "  " 
"     3.      2-10        "  "  "     7.      1*90       "  " 
Average,  1-84  per  cent,  emetia. 
All  the  numbers  were  examined  microscopically  and  chemically  for 
adulterations,  especially  for  almond  meal,  chalk  and  antimonium  potas- 
sium tartrate,  but  no  adulterations  were  found,  except  a  little  extrane- 
ous woody  fibre. 
The  compound  powder  of  ipecacuanha  was  assayed  as  follows  :2 
Three  grams  of  the  powder  were  extracted  with  85  per  cent,  alcohol 
1  "  Werthbestimmung  einiger  starkwirkender  Droguen  "  (1874)  S.  37. 
2  "  DragendorflTs  Werthbestimmung,"  S.  96. 
