562 
Acetum  ScilU,  B.  P. 
Am,  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec.  1875. 
The  taste  at  this  period  showed  No.  4  to  be  slightly  musty, 
whilst  No.  3  seemed  deficient  in  acidity,  but  I  think  this  last  must  have 
been  fancy. 
From  this  date  the  samples  were  occasionally  examined  in  a  super- 
ficial manner,  but  through  extreme  pressure  of  business,  results  were 
not  particularly  noted.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  there  was;  a  gradual 
deterioration  in  all  the  samples. 
On  the  20th  of  August,  1875,  all  were  finally  examined.  Nos.  i, 
2  and  4  were  unmistakably  spoiled,  whilst  No.  3  was  scarcely  fit  to 
use,  but  would  pass  muster  if  not  examined  too  critically.  It  was  de- 
cidedly less  decomposed  than  the  other  three.  There  was  a  distinct  sedi- 
ment in  all,  but  much  the  heaviestin  No.  4 ;  the  rest  seemed  about  equah 
All  the  samples  were  then  examined  volumetrically,  for  the  purpose 
of  determining  their  relative  acidity.  Two  drachms  of  No.  i,  diluted 
with  six  drachms  of  distilled  water,  required  53  minims  of  the  volu- 
metric solution  of  soda,  B.  P.,  to  neutralize  it.  No.  2  and  No.  4 
were  equally  strong  in  acid,  whilst  the  same  quantity  of  No.  3,  diluted 
with  a  like  quantity  of  water,  required  68  minims  of  soda  sol.  to  neu- 
tralize it.  I  cannot  be  quite  certain  as  to  the  exactness  of  my  acidi- 
metry,  since  my  burette  and  measuring  flasks  are  of  my  own  construc- 
tion, from  glass  tubing  and  common  vials  ;  but  as  the  same  solution  and 
apparatus  were  used  throughout,  the  comparative  results  will  be  correct. 
The  volumetric  estimates  were  duplicated  to  ensure  accuracy,  and  gave 
very  nearly  the  same  results  each  time. 
I  would  draw  the  conclusion,  from  these  experiments,  that  the  proof- 
spirit  ordered  to  be  added  to  acet.  scillae  by  the  "  British  Pharmacopoeia,"" 
is  worse  than  useless,  since  it  impairs  the  beauty  of  the  sample  and 
renders  it  less  able  to  resist  the  inroads  of  decomposition  ;  and  also, 
that  the  preparation  is  best  kept  in  situations  having  an  equable  tem- 
perature, and  not  exposed  to  very  strong  light.  Those  samples  have 
suffered  most  in  my  hands  that  have  been  exposed  to  the  greatest  ex- 
tremes of  temperature. —  Canadian  Pharm.  Jour..^  Oct.,  1875. 
VARIETIES. 
Iodoform  Crayons. — According  to  The  Doctor,  these  cylinders  are  made  by 
mixing  one  and  a  half  drachms  of  iodoform  with  seven  and  a  half  grains  of  powdered 
gum  acacia,  and  sufficient  mucilage  to  form  a  mass.  This  quantity  may  be  divided 
into  ten  pencils,  each  about  an  inch  long.    They  should  be  allowed  to  dry  in  the 
