Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
April,  1892.  j 
Note  07i  Soda  Mint. 
i87 
process,  the  products,  examined  immediately,  were  found  to  contain 
less  than  the  required  58  per  cent,  of  sulphide.  The  results 
obtained  by  assaying  the  recently  prepared  and  five  commercial 
samples  of  sulphurated  potassa  are  tabulated  below ;  the  process 
used  was  that  of  the  pharmacopoeia:  10  parts  (3-23  gm.)  of  the 
compound  saturated  with  12-69  parts  (4-069  gm.)  of  crystallized 
copper  sulphate  and  60  parts  of  water;  the  copper  still  present  in 
the  filtrate  was  determined  and  weighed  as  CuO. 
Found. 
 ->-  v  Potassium 
Color  of  specimens. 
CuO 
CuS 
sulphide. 
Chocolate-brown,  .  . 
0*02  gm. 
1*541  gm. 
55*10  per  ct. 
0*272.  " 
1*230  " 
44'39  " 
Green,  externally,  .  . 
.  <  0*292  " 
1*214  " 
43 '44  " 
Brown,  internally,  .  . 
.  1 0*350  " 
1*141  " 
4o-95  " 
Greenish  yellow,    .  . 
f  0*460  " 
I*OI2  " 
36*21  " 
lo*520  " 
o'945  " 
33-63  " 
NOTE  ON  SODA  MINT. 
By  F.  W.  Haussmann,  Ph.G. 
Read  before  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting, 
March  15. 
The  substitution  of  spearmint  for  peppermint  water  in  this  popu- 
lar remedy  is  of  comparatively  recent  introduction,  older  formulas  for 
the  same  almost  invariably  ordering  the  latter.  Among  pharma- 
cists the  change  has  not  altogether  been  approved,  as  many  still 
follow  the  custom  of  the  past  or  the  demand  of  the  public  for  the 
better  known  peppermint  flavor.  The  question  whether  the  sub- 
stitution is  preferable,  is  rather  difficult  to  answer,  and  either  the 
affirmative  or  negative  rests  entirely  with  the  buyer.  Peppermint 
is  certainly  better  known  and  perhaps  more  popular  with  the  average 
consumer,  for  while  perhaps  finding  a  resemblance  in  spearmint, 
the  more  familiar  odor  and  flavor  of  the  former  is  almost  invariably 
preferred.  From  a  therapeutic  standpoint  it  is  also  stated  to  possess 
greater  stimulating  properties,  but  in  this  case  hardly  sufficient  to 
have  any  decided  value.  On  the  contrary,  as  the  remedy  is  often 
given  to  infants,  the  less  stimulating  action  of  spearmint  water  is  to 
be  preferred. 
A  menthol  preparation  has  been  suggested,  but  presents  no 
apparent  improvement.  Its  slight  solubility  in  water  is  the  main 
disadvantage.    This  would  be  chiefly  experienced  when  making  the 
