A^c{ober,Pi9oi!m'}     American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  501 
The  Influence  of  Synthetic  Remedies  on  Various  Urine  Tests 
and  Fallacies  They  Often  Cause. 
By  F.  T.  Gordon. 
The  Quinhydrones  as  Plant  Pigments. 
By  Edward  Kremers. 
The  Committee  on  the  Revision  of  the  United  States  Pharmaco- 
poeia, through  the  Chairman,  Leo  Eliel,  presented  the  following 
report  : 
Ung.  Hydrargyri  Nitratis. — There  is  some  complaint  regarding  the  present 
formula.  The  formula  of  1870  (lard  and  neatsfoot  oil)  was  satisfactory,  and  a 
return  to  this  formula  is  recommended. 
The  alkaloid  of  sanguinaria  is  used  to  a  large  extent,  and  should  be  made 
official. 
The  direction  to  melt  and  soften  aloes  in  the  manufacture  of  compound  ex- 
tract of  calocynth  should  be  omitted. 
The  resin  of  jalap  should  be  used  in  the  manufacture  of  compound  cathartic 
pills,  instead  of  the  extract. 
The  strength  of  chlorinated  lime  should  be  reduced  from  35  per  cent,  to  25 
per  cent. 
Spirit  of  Ammonia. — By  the  official  method  of  preparation  none  stronger 
than  2  per  cent,  can  be  made  in  laboratory  work.  In  order  to  make  a  10  per 
cent,  preparation  it  is  found  necessary  to  pass  ammonia  gas  into  alcohol 
several  hours  under  pressure,  the  receiver  being  closed  with  a  mercury  safety 
tube  outlet. 
Salicin  should  be  defined  as  a  glucoside  (see  Voswinkel's  Work,  Berl. 
Dtschr.  Ph.  Ges.,  1900,  p.  31). 
Aromatic  Waters  prepared  with  calcium  phosphate  precipitated  do  not  keep 
as  well  as  those  made  by  the  cotton  process.  The  hot  water  process  is  recom- 
mended. 
Mass  of  Mercury. — In  making  this  the  metal  can  be  more  quickly  extin- 
guished by  using  about  three  times  the  pharmacopoeial  quantity  of  glycerin 
mixed  with  honey  of  rose.  The  finished  mass  will  be  too  soft,  but  can  be 
easily  hardened  by  placing  between  folds  of  bibulous  paper  for  a  few  hours. 
Wax. — The  resin  test  for  wax  should  be  changed  to  direct  that  the  alkaline 
solution  be  filtered  through  glass  wool  or  asbestos  (see  A.  J.  P.,  1900,  p.  74). 
We  desire  at  this  time  to  refer  -  to  the  suggestions  previously  made  by  this 
committee,  and  to  especially  emphasize  the  following,  deeming  their  charac- 
ter to  be  such  as  to  merit  your  most  careful  consideration  at  this  time  : 
( 1)  That  granulated  opium  be  used  for  the  tincture  and  deodorized  tincture  of 
opium,  and  the  use  of  precipitated  phosphate  of  calcium  omitted. 
(2)  Deprive  the  seeds  of  colchicum  and  strophanthus  of  their  oils  before  the 
preparation  of  the  tincture. 
(3)  Adoption  of  the  formula  given  in  the  report  of  this  committee,  1895,  for 
sapo  mollis. 
