Am.  Jour.  Pharoi.  > 
January,  1895.  J 
Laboratory  Notes. 
29 
color  ;  the  oil  is  finally  converted  into  a  resin.  The  table  below  con- 
tains the  results  on  ten  samples  of  oil: 
Sample. 
Sp.  Gr.  at 
IS°C. 
 .  
B.  P. 

Color. 
Reaction. 

Nitric  Acid  Test. 
.  
1 
1  0680 
210-234 
■  ■ 
Colorless 
Neutral 
Normal. 
1 ' 1 006 
I 
1-060 
I9O-236 
1  053 
195-231 
5 
1*077 
200-233 
<  < 
<< 
<  < 
6 
1*053 
I76-232 
7 
1-050 
I92-234 
<  < 
8 
1-054 
179-231 
<  < 
9 
1  "076 
180-232 
<< 
10 
1*075 
215-233 
Yellowish 
<  < 
Numbers  one,  Jive,  nine  and  ten  approximately  comply  with  the 
U.  S.  P.  requirements,  number  two  is  commercial  safrol  and  of  the 
remaining  five,  probably  all  but  number  tzvo,  are  the  so-called 
pseudo  sassafras  oil,  or  u  artificial  sassafras  oil,"  produced  by  frac- 
tionating camphor  oil. 
IPECAC  ROOT. 
The  following  observation  is  worth  a  passing  notice  in  that  it 
scores  a  point  for  assaying  with  volumetric  acid  solutions.  Two 
samples  of  ipecac  root  were  assayed  according  to  Mr.  C.  C.  Keller's 
process.  The  thick  annulated  root,  generally  called  "  Fancy  Root," 
yielded  by  the  gravimetric  process  167  per  cent.,  by  titration  with 
volumetric  acid  solution  162  per  cent,  of  alkaloid.  The  "Wiry 
Root  "  by  the  gravimetric  process  gave  2  39  per  cent.,  by  titration 
with  volumetric  acid  solution  2- 33  per  cent,  of  alkaloid. 
One  hundred  and  two  pounds  of  the  "  Wiry  Root  "  were  perco- 
lated. Before  the  fluid  extract  could  be  completed,  it  was  necessary 
to  utilize  a  portion  of  it.  Accordingly,  the  product  was  assayed 
and  the  desired  quantity  was  removed.  This  assay  yielded  2- 18  per 
cent,  of  alkaloid,  a  loss  of  0-15  per  cent.,  or  1494  gallons  when 
the  product  is  finished.  We  were  again  compelled  to  remove  a 
portion  of  the  fluid  extract  before  it  was  finished  ;  this  was  done  by 
another  assay.  When  the  product  was  finished  it  was  standardized. 
On  adding  the  two  portions  previously  removed  to  the  finished 
product  we  obtained  15  25  gallons  against  14  94  gallons  obtained 
by  the  first  assay,  a  difference  of  0*31  gallon. 
Several  conclusions  can  be  deduced  from  the  above  : 
