As^ptJembef,hi9or-}         Pharmaceutical  Associations.  469 
the  same  as  the  U.S.P.  in  regard  to  strength  of  active  principle. 
(See  Scoville,  Amer.  Drug.,  September  11,  1890.) 
"  The  Use  of  Wood  Alcohol  in  the  Preparation  of  Tincture  of 
Iodine."  The  author  concludes  that  it  is  unfit  to  be  used  unless  a 
strong  counter-irritant  is  desired  and  even  then  it  should  be  used 
with  caution.    (See  Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.,  1901,  p.  285.) 
The  author  says  no  substances  will  successfully  counteract  the 
odor  of  wood  alcohol,  but  that  the  addition  of  more  odorous  sub- 
stances (what  ?)  will  mask  the  peculiar  odor  to  some  extent. 
The  commercial  precipitated  phosphate  of  calcium  contains 
usually  a  small  amount  of  calcium  sulphate  ;  one  sample  contained 
as  much  as  20  per  cent.  The  presence  of  arsenic  was  ascertained 
in  samples. 
The  aconite  root  of  the  market  appears  to  be  contaminated  in  a 
number  of  instances  with  roots  of  other  species  of  aconitum,  horse- 
radish, and  inferior  aconite. 
Commercial  phosphate  of  soda  does  not  respond  to  U.S.P.  tests  for 
arsenic,  but  two  samples  showed  traces  of  arsenic  by  the  method  of 
Dozzard  and  Cody  (see  also  E.  H.  Gane  in  Amer.  Drug.,  1900,  p.  101). 
Acetic  acid  as  a  menstruum  may  be  used  in  the  preparation  of 
extract  of  gentian  and  ipecac.  (See  Squibb,  Amer.  Jour.  Pharm., 
1899,  pp.  I  and  305  ;  1900,  pp.  1  and  311.)  The  author  does  not 
see  any  necessity  for  change  of  name  in  fluid  or  solid  extracts 
made  with  acetic  acid. 
Collodion  of  the  U.S.P.  varies  in  consistency  depending  upon  the 
gun  cotton.  One  manufacturer  allows  the  collodion  to  stand  six 
months  after  preparation  before  selling  it.  He  also  uses  a  slightly 
greater  proportion  of  alcohol. 
A  process  of  assay  of  veratrum  album  is  given,  being  a  modifica- 
tion of  method  given  by  Lyons,  acetic  acid  being  used  in  the 
extraction. 
"  Note  on  Commercial  Lard."  (See  Bamford,  Amer.  Jour.  Pharm., 
1 90 1,  p.  29.) 
The  red  coloration  in  carbolic  acid  appears  to  be  due,  as  already 
pointed  out  by  Walter  (Pharmaz.  Jour.,  "  Progress  in  Pharmacy 
and  Therapeutics,"  Lehn  and  Fink,  Feb.,  1900,  p.  55),  to  the 
action  of  ozone  or  hydrogen  peroxide  and  traces  of  iron,  contained 
in  the  container  or  acid  itself.    This  is  confirmed  by  the  author. 
"  Vanillin."    The  author  gives  tests  and  method  of  estimation. 
