1 84         Examination  of  Some  Official  Preparations.  { AmAJp0rUi[; iSTm" 
of  these  gave  results  above  the  requirements  of  the  Pharmacopoeia 
and  three  were  slightly  below. 
Water  of  Ammonia — John  W.  Hough  examined  20  samples  of 
ammonia  water.  The  results  indicate  that  neither  of  the  official 
preparations  is  usually  dispensed.  Twelve  of  the  samples  indicated  a 
strength  of  about  14  per  cent.,  5  were  no  doubt  sold  as  a  10  per 
cent,  solution,  anal  3  indicated  considerable  dilution  with  water,  the 
lowest  showed  a  strength  of  4-56  per  cent. 
Diluted  Hydrobromic  Acid. — Harry  Bitler  found  this  acid  to  be 
about  the  10  per  cent,  required  by  the  Pharmacopoeia.  Of  10 
samples  examined  3  contained  tartaric  acid,  indicating  that  they 
had  been  prepared  by  the  Fothergili  formula.  Most  of  the  others 
contained  sulphuric  acid. 
Hydrochloric  Acid. — Alexander  B.  Petrie,  Jr.,  purchased  25  samples 
of  this  acid  in  Philadelphia  and  Camden.  In  every  case  "  strong 
muriatic  acid"  was  asked  for.  Nine  of  the  samples  were  found  to 
be  chemically  pure,  and  16  were  the  commercial  acid.  Only  one 
was  dispensed  in  a  glass  stoppered  bottle.  The  percentage  strength 
of  absolute  hydrochloric,  acid  was  found  to  vary  from  20  9  to  37  8. 
The  Pharmacopoeia  requires  319  per  cent. 
Solution  of  Chlorinated  Soda. — Harry  W.  Zeamer  assayed  25 
samples  of  this  preparation  purchased  in  Philadelphia  and  Camden. 
He  found  3  of  these  to  contain  the  2  per  cent,  of  available 
chlorine  required  by  the  Pharmacopoeia.  One  contained  no  available 
chlorine,  and  most  of  the  remainder  contained  over  one  per  cent, 
of  the  active  element. 
Diluted  Nitric  Acid. — G.  A.  Weston  examined  25  samples  of  this 
preparation  and  found  the  percentage  strength  to  vary  from  6-27  to 
11  72.  Two  of  the  samples  contained  considerable  quantities  of 
hydrochloric  acid. 
Nitric  Acid. — Harry  C.  Mendenhall  found  in  20  samples  of  this 
acid,  that  they  varied  from  50  00  to  72-80  per  cent.  Only  one 
specimen  was  dispensed  with  a  glass  stopper.  None  contained 
more  than  traces  of  impurity. 
Solution  of  Chloride  of  Iron. — Charles  H.  Raudenbush  found  14 
samples  to  yield  the  required  amount  of  ferric  oxide.  Nitric  acid 
was  found  in  the  majority  and  oxychloride  in  one-half  the  samples. 
One  other  specimen,  although  labelled  solution  of  chloride  of  iron, 
was  found  to  be  the  tincture. 
