470  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference, 
show  the  amount  of  potassium  hydrate  required  to  saponify  five  specimens  of 
sandal  wood  oil,  and  the  same  after  acetylation,  as  well  as  the  specific  gravities 
and  iodine  absorption  numbers  of  the  different  samples.  It  was  suggested  that 
the  results  prove  that  the  greater  part  of  the  aldehyd  in  the  oil  comes  over  in 
the  earlier  fractions,  and  that  the  saponifiable  oil  of  highest  boiling  point  in- 
creases in  quantity  as  distillation  proceeds,  thus  accounting  for  increase  in 
specific  gravity.  The  constitution  does  not  appear  to  be  materially  altered  by 
acetylation,  and  this  process,  followed  by  saponification  with  potassium 
hydrate,  serves  to  detect  the  presence  of  cedar  wood  oil,  the  amount  of  which 
can  also  be  approximately  determined  in  a  mixture  of  the  oils. 
NOTES  OF  A  RESEARCH  UPON  IPECACUANHA. 
By  R.  A.  Cripps. 
The  ether  extract  of  the  drug  contained  a  trace  of  an  alkaloid,  oleic  and  pal- 
mitic (?)  acids,  neutral  fat,  wax  and  resin.  The  subsequent  alcoholic  extract 
was  partly  dissolved  by  chloroform  whilst  acid,  and  partly  by  ether  and  chloro- 
form after  being  rendered  alkaline  by  ammonia.  The  acid  chloroform  extract 
contained  some  alkaloid,  but  this  requires  further  investigation.  By  fractional 
precipitation  the  whole  of  the  alkaloid  in  the  ether  extract  was  separated,  and 
two  of  the  extreme  fractions  were  converted  into  gold  and  platinum  double 
salts,  which  proved  to  be  practically  identical  in  composition,  the  figures 
agreeing  closely  with  those  required  by  emetine  (Paul).  It  was  concluded  that 
emetine  was  the  only  ether-soluble  alkaloid.  No  definite  results  have  yet  been 
obtained  with  the  alkaloid  soluble  in  chloroform. 
REPORT  ON  THE  STRENGTH  OF  COMMERCIAL  SAMPLES  OF  THE 
ALKALOIDAL  TINCTURES  OF  THE  BRITISH  PHARMACOPOEIA. 
By  E.  H.  Farr  and  R.  Wright. 
In  their  paper  the  authors  reported  the  results  of  an  inquiry  into  the  strength 
and  quality  of  commercial  tinctures  as  dispensed  by  pharmacists.  A  very  wide 
range  in  alkaloidal  value  was  disclosed,  some  of  the  tinctures,  even  those  of 
opium  and  cinchona,  which  are  directed  to  be  made  of  standardized  drugs, 
being  twice  or  three  times  the  strength  of  others.  The  tinctures  of  nux 
vomica  never  exceeded  the  official  standard,  but  frequently  fell  below  it,  and 
those  of  conium  were  in  most  cases  absolutely  worthless,  only  one  sample 
showing  indications  of  having  been  made  strictly  according  to  the  Pharma- 
copoeia instructions. 
COD  LIVER  OIL  CONSTANTS. 
By  E.  J.  Parry  and  C.  E.  Sage. 
The  published  constants  of  cod  liver  oil  vary  so  considerably  that  the  authors 
have  thought  the  matter  of  sufficient  importance  to  obtain  a  number  of 
authentic  specimens  and  determine  some  of  their  most  useful  analytical 
data. 
The  limits  of  specific  gravity  in  the  ten  samples  examined  were  "9227  to 
•929T  ;  the  saponification  figures  varied  from  17-90  to  19*34  per  cent,  of  potas- 
sium hydrate,  and  the  iodine  absorption  figures  from  153*5  to  168*4  Per  cent, 
confirming  the  results  of  Thompson  and  Ballantyne.  The  amount  of  free 
fatty  acid,  calculated  as  oleic,  varied  from  0*34  to  o'6o  per  cent.  ;  their  melting 
points  from  21*5°  to  250,  and  their  iodine  absorption  figures  from  164*9  to  i'7o'i. 
The  mean  molecular  weights  of  the  acids  varied  from  287*6  to  292*5. 
