A.m.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  1921. 
Volatilization  of  Ethyl  Nitrite. 
321 
tility  of  its  ethyl  nitrite  content,  has  always  been  a  disturbing  factor, 
and  is  a  matter  of  deep  concern  to  all  those  who  take  pride  in  the 
quality  of  the  preparations  they  dispense. 
According  to  modern  chemical  classification  ethyl  nitrite  is  an 
ester  and  not  an  ether.  Its  ethereal  quality  was  probably  the  reason 
for  the  name  or  possibly  on  account  of  the  discarded,  inaccurate  term 
"compound  ether,"  that  was  formerly  applied  to  this  class  of  prod- 
ucts. This  inaccuracy  should  be  corrected  in  the  next  revision  of 
the  U.  S.  P.,  and  the  name  Spirit  of  Ethyl  Nitrite  adopted.  It  would 
then  be  consistent  and  in  uniformity  with  Spirit  of  Glyceryl  Trini- 
trate, which  has  been  adopted  for  spirit  of  nitroglycerine. 
With  the  object  of  determining  the  factor  most  responsible  for 
the  deterioration  in  quality,  a  number  of  experiments  were  con- 
ducted and  the  following  results  noted : 
One-ounce  flint  and  amber  bottles  were  completely  filled  and 
placed  in  a  refrigerator. 
Practically  no  change  occurred  in  contents  of  either  style  of 
bottle  when  kept  for  this  period  under  the  above  condition. 
EXPERIMENT  NO.  2. 
One-ounce  flint  and  amber  bottles  were  completely  filled  and 
kept  in  a  dark  closet  at  room  temperature  for  four  weeks. 
Flint  bottle.     Amber  bottle. 
Original  strength,  5.25  per  cent.    5.25  per  cent. 
After  keeping  4  weeks,  5.20    "     "       5.19  " 
Very  little  change  occurred  in  contents  of  either  style  of  bottle. 
EXPERIMENT  NO.  3. 
One-ounce  flint  and  amber  bottles  were  completely  filled  and 
kept  on  shelf  for  4  weeks. 
EXPERIMENT  NO.  I. 
Original  strength, 
After  keeping  4  weeks, 
Flint  bottle.  Amber  bottle. 
5.25  per  cent.  5.25  per  cent. 
5.22    "     "       5.23  "  " 
Flint.  Amber. 
Original  strength. 
5.25  per  cent.    5.25  per  cent. 
After  1  week, 
After  2  weeks, 
After  3  weeks, 
After  4  weeks, 
5.24  "  "  5.25  " 
5.24  "    "        5.23  " 
5.24  "  "    5.22  «  " 
5.07      "        "  5.19  " 
