not conform to well recognized standards of quality or which fall below the professed standards under which they are sold, approximately 25 per cent are adulterated. Such adulterations are due to a deficiency in strength in some cases and more often to the failure of the manufacturer to sufficiently purify his chemicals.

Numerous examples of adulterations which have been found in important chemicals are given and the conclusions are, 1st, gross and deliberate adul terations do not amount to one per cent; 2nd, chemicals that do not comply with the professed standards under which they are sold, including all hands, except retailers, approximate 25 per cent; 3rd, published reports indicated that retailers' chemicals fail to comply with the professed standards under which they are sold, to a larger extent than obtains in all other lands combined. *

Outlines of the sampling of drugs and medicines.

The importance of procuring representative samples for analytical work is sometimes overlooked and underestimated. The observations embodied in this paper are gleaned from practice and are presented with the view of bringing about some uniform system of sampling and if possible to save some of the younger chemists many trying and at times embarassing experiences. The organization and working of the drug laboratory.

In pursuance of an Act of Congress of June 30th, 1902, authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate the adulteration of drugs in the United States, the Drug Laboratory was established. The chief assumed active charge March 1, 1903, and since that time three assistant chemists and a stenographer have been added to its working force. The work includes at present the following lines of investigation:

TESTING OF CHEMICAL REAGENTS.—All chemicals purchased by the Bureau of Chemistry are examined to insure the acceptance of reliable chemicals only, thus placing all competitors on an equal footing, and also for the purpose of securing data from which standards of purity be constructed.

ANALYSIS OF PLANT DRUGS.-This involves the study of analytical methods and also of the influence of time on the properties of many potent drugs.

COD LIVER OIL INVESTIGATIONS. An investigation of both American and Norwegian codliver oil is now being made, in collaboration with the Division of Foods and the Bureau of Fisheries, to determine their relative values. chemically and medicinally. Thus far, the results indicate that the American oil is the equal of the Norwegian.

WORK ON PROPRIETARY MEDICINAL AGENTS. -Much of this work is done at the request of the Post Office Department, to assist it in investigations of fraudulent products which are transmitted through the mail.

COMPILATION OF DRUG LAWS. All the laws of the different States and territories are now being collected, which relate to the adulteration of drugs and medicines or to the labeling of poisons. These will be published in bulletin form for the information of those interested.

The desirability of using uniform and distinct abbreviations for periodicals, with a suggested list.

The desirability of using concise, clear and definite references in literature becomes apparent to any one who gives the subject only superficial thought. Particularly is this true of the pharmaceutical profession because of its cognate nature and the vast field covered. A few samples of references. found in the last volume of the proceedings of the Association, show how vague and useless some of them are.

lined.

Examples of a system to be followed in making abbreviations are outThe abbreviations cover such periodicals as are commonly met with in pharmaceutical work.

L. F. Kebler and Geo. W. Hoover: Method for the analysis of emulsions.

An examination of the literature shows that little has been done on the analysis of emulsions, and such results as are recorded are restricted almost exclusively to the determination of the fatty portion. Medicinal agents other than oils may, however, exert a beneficial effect and harmful agents may at times be present, and these agents must be taken into consideration.

* A lively discussion followed the reading of this paper, In as much as the data on which the last statement was based seemed is sufficient, the author withdrew it.

Further, the emulsifying agent may or may not serve the function of a nutritive.

Fourteen emulsions of known compositions and eleven proprietary preparations were analyzed as completely as practicable and from the data thus obtained a scheme of analysis has been formulated. The methods used are described and the analytical data thus obtained by these methods are given in tabular form.

L. F. Kebler and A. Seidell:- Analysis of the Mexican plant Tecoma mollis.

The above plant is used in Mexico as a remedy, and an examination was made to determine its proximate principles. This plant is also said to be indigenous to Columbia, Peru and Chili and to be known by the following synonyms: Tecoma sorbifolia, H. B. K., Tecoma stans y-velutina, DC, StenoTobium molle and Bignonia tecomoides, DC. A careful examination of the literature dealing with medicinal plants failed to reveal any recorded investigation of this plant under any one of the names enumerated.

For this analysis the leaves only were used. Complete analyses by both the Dragendorff and Parsons methods were made. The results, which are given in full, show that Tecoma mollis contains no alkaloid or other well characterized medicinally important plant constituent. It contains, however, a bitter principle soluble in dilute alcohol, to which is probably due whatever medicinal properties the plant may possess.

Henry Kraemer: A bottle for keeping sterilized pharmaceutical pre

parations.

The author describes a convenient bottle for keeping pharmaceutical preparations liable to decomposition due to the presence or influence of microorganisms. It is easily end cheaply constructed and combines the essential features of an atomizer and the ordinary wash-bottle of the laboratory.

An ordinary bottle with a sufficiently large mouth to permit of the introduction of two glass tubes through a rubber stopper is used. The rubber tube with the atomizer bulb is attached to the glass tube through which the air is forced for expelling the liquid, which glass tube is loosely plugged with cotton so as to filter the air. The exit tube is bent at right angles and is thus directed straight downwards.

The bottle and the preparation are both sterilized.

A. B. Lyons:- Note on some new color reactions and a new reagent for sucrose, lactose, etc.

Sulphuric acid and formaldehyde constitute a well known reagent for morphine and its derivative alkaloids. Conversely morphine and sulphuric acid may be used for detecting formaldehyde. The test applied by the contact method will show hardly less than 1:20,000 formaldehyde in aqueous solution. Addition to the reagent of a trace of ferric salt (chloride or sulphate) greatly increases its sensitiveness, so that it will give a color indication at dilution of 1:2.000.000. Other aldehyde bodies, however, react like formaldehyde.

In particular sucrose and lactose may be recognized, though not satisfactorily discriminated, by this reagent. In case of sucrose solutions 1:100-1:1.1000, the color is distinctive, the violet blue obtained as from formaldehyde, being surmounted by a yellow border, the two colors contrasting freely.

Obviously morphine (codeine and heroine) may be identified by using formaldehyde or sugar as a reagent, performing the tests exactly as when looking for formaldehyde or sugar. The test for formaldehyde is applicable only to distillates, and then is only of negative value. It cannot be applied to milk (before or after coagulation); neither can it be used to detect glucose in urine.

Note on a modification of Hehner's test for formaldehyde.

Hehner's test is applicable only to milk or to a mixture of the suspected solution with milk. The milk contains proteids upon the presence of which the color reaction depends.

In the proposed modification of the test. beef peptone is substituted for the milk. It is essential that there be a correct proportion of the several reagents concerned in the test. In routine work, use for the reagent a mixture of the official Tincture of Ferric Chloride in twenty or twenty-five volumes of strong sulphuric acid.

Place in a test tube 2 cc. of the solution to be tested (distillate if necessary). Add 20 mg. of beef peptone: shake the tube and add with a pipette 2 cc. of the reagent, allowed to flow down the side of the inclined

tube and so form a distinct layer at the bottom.

Make a duplicate experi

ment, allowing one tube to stand for development of color zone; mix the contents of the other tube by shaking and observe change of color.

Limit of test 1:4,000,000, formaldehyde.

J. U. Lloyd:- An experiment in hydrastis culture.

R. W. Moore: - The quality of drugs coming into the port of New York. Frederick B. Power and Frank Tutin: Chemical examination of

Grindelia.

Under the title of Grindelia the Pharmacopoeia of the United States recognizes "dried leaves and flowering tops of Grindelia robusta, Nutall, or of Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal."

Although the drug has been used medicinally for a number of years, the chemical examinations which have hitherto been made of it are somewhat incomplete. Rademaker reported the occurrence of an alkaloid, which Clark could not confirm, but inferred that it contained "saponin or an allied body," for which the name of grindelin was suggested. He, furthermore, considered it probable that the medicinal properties of the Grindelias are due to this substance, and advanced the theory that "the resin found in the drug is wholly a decomposition roduct of grindelin." Fischer has indicated that the most important constituents found by him were a crystallizable acid, soluble in water, alcohol, and ether, which he termed "robustic acid," and an alkaloid which was designated as "grindeline." Schneegans stated that he ob tained two glucosides having the characters of saponin, but doubted the presence of an alkaloid.

The present authors find that the chief constituents of Grindelig are amorphous resins, to which its medicinal value is probably to be attributed. In addition, Grindelia contains a considerable amount of a lævo-rotatory sugar, apparently 1-glucose. It also contains proteid substances, amorphous coloring matter and tannin and an exceedingly small amount of an essential oil, possessing the characteristic odor of the drug.

The authors are unable to confirm the observations of previous investigators respecting the presence of a saponin or an alkaloid.

W. A. Puckner: Estimation of caffeine in presence of acetanilide.

In estimating acetanilide and caffeine in head-ache remedies the extraction of both from an acid medium by means of chloroform and the subsequent precipitation of caffeine as periodide suggested itself. The details are given which lead to the adoption of a method in which acetanilide and caffeine are extracted by chloroform in presence of sulphuric acid. the chloroform distilled off, the residue dried to obtain caffeine plus acetanilide. From this residue the caffeine is then extracted, precipitated with iodine, the periodide decomposed with sodium sulphite and the caffeine extracted with chloroform. Notes on the estimation of caffeine.

Experiments made to determine the conditions under which caffeine may be dried without loss, show: (a) If caffeine, dried at 95 degrees, is dissolved in water or chloroform, evaporated at room temperature and dried over sulphuric acid, practically the original weight is obtained. (b) If caffeine, dried at 95 degrees, is dissolved in chloroform, the solvent evaporated from a shallow dish at 50-60 degrees and dried at this temperature, practically the original weight is obtained. While vaporization can be demonstrated it is not sufficient to affect the results of quantitative work. (c) From a chloroform solution of caffeine the solvent may be distilled off and the residue dried at 95 degrees without loss of caffeine. If. on the other hand, the solution is contained in a shallow dish and after evaporation is dried at 95 degrees, then an appreciable loss of caffeine occurs. Tasilly's conclusions, that caffeine does not become anhydrous, even if dried at 110 degrees, were in a measure confirmed.

The estimation of acetanilide.

Incidental to the estimation of acetanilide in certain head-ache remedies it became desirable to make experiments relative to the temperature at which ether or chloroform (this having been used to separate it from other constituents) could be expelled and the residue obtained in condition for weighing. These experiments show that acetanilide is quite volatile at comparatively low temperatures. From its ether or chloroform solution the solvent may be evaporated at room temperature and the residue brought to constant weight over sulphuric acid without loss of substance. If the solvent is distilled from a flask and the residue is dried at 50-60 degrees, loss by volatization is slight and a practically constant weight is attached

in 12-24 hours.

At 95 degrees acetanilide is appreciably volatile even when contained in a narrow-necked flask. The residue obtained, when from an ether or chloroform solution the solvent is driven off. is not pure acetanilide, and if loss by vaporization is guarded against, high results are invariably obtained.

J. P. Remington:- An improved form of retort stand for druggist's use. A paper describing the construction of a retort stand consisting of an iron base, an upright of wrought iron pipe (4 in.), with a set of ingeniously constructed clamps, into which the shafts of the rings fit and can be securely fastened to the upright at any time and in any position.

The novel feature of this retort stand consists in the construction of the clamp, which is shaped like the letter U, with two holes in the ends through which the shafts of the rings are run and fastened securely by a thumb screw in the curved end of thee lamp.

C. G. Richardson:— Vegetable lecithin,

H. H. Rusby: Drugs which are specially liable to substitution.

Some time during the past winter the speaker discussed the subject of the adulteration of crude drugs before the Chemists' Club of New York. The paper was subsequently printed in a number of pharmaceutical journals and excited considerable interest in the subject. At the suggestion of Chairman Gane, the principal facts are now presented to the section, in connection with specimens which illustrate the points of resemblance and of difference between the drugs concerned.

L. E. Sayre: - Gelsemium root.

A comparison of the fresh and dried root. By the process of alkaloidal extraction a quantitative estimation of the fresh and dried root has been made; the comparative estimation being based mainly upon alkaloidal conPhysiological data also referred to.

tent.

E. Schaer: The influence of alkaline substances upon oxidation processes. These influences are discussed, according to the nature of the oxidation. under three classes: (1) Oxidations produced by the salts of heavy, more particularly noble metals (e. g. Fehling's solution, etc.); (2) intra-molecular oxidation (e. g. guaiac blue, quinone, benzoyl peroxide, etc.); (3) spontaneous oxidation with the formation of more stable and more highly oxidized products.

The paper presents a résumé of the work done at the Pharmaceutical Institute of the University of Strassburg, and elsewhere, and published in journals and proceedings of several countries. The author concludes his essay with the statement that the activating influence of alkalies, even of the weakest ones, is so far reaching in processes of oxidation and autoxidation that their presence should no longer be ignored in chemical and pharmaceutical work.

Ernst Schmidt:- Scopoline.

This paper presents a continuation of the report made by the author to the Association in 1892. The study of the constitution of scopoline was conducted along parallel lines to those which had proved successful in revealing the structure of tropine, tropidine, tropincne and related compounds. The author, however, arrived at the conclusion that the analogy, assumed for the purpose of rational investigation, was not upheld by the facts revealed by the experiments reported. Three lines of investigation were presented: (1) Attempts to remove the oxygen, (a) by dehydration and (b) by indirect reduction; (2) the distillation of scopoligenine with zine dust in an atmosphere of hydrogen resulting in the formation of pyridine; and (3) oxydation with (a) bromine (yielding scopoligenine), (b) with hydrogen dioxide (yielding an unstable oxydation product) and (c) with chromic acid (yielding among other substances an oxygen-free base).

J. O. Schlotterbeck and Burton S. Knapp: chemistry of chelidonine.

Contribution to the

Chelidonine is the principal alkaloid of Chelidonium majus and Stylophorum diphyllum. Its formula is CH19NO.H2O and melting point 136. Contains one hydroxyl and forms beautiful acetyl and benzoyl compounds. Saturated with HCl gas at 200 and then allowed to stand in a sealed tube for six days at ordinary temperatures Chelidonine seems to be converted into amorphous tri-chelidonine. Fusion with alkali gives a phenolic body, prob

ably proto-catechuic acid. Zine dust distillation does not yield phenanthrene, but merely amines, ammonia and pyrrol. Treatment with PCI, in the cold gives a mixture of white amorphous mono-chlor-chelidonine CH1CINO, and an amorphous leuco compound containing one less hydrogen, C20H17CINO.. Treatment with PC with heat gives a mixture of the two compounds mentioned and in addition a colorless crystalline chlor-base, containing two less hydrogens and giving bright red crystalline salts with acids. The hydrochloride has the composition CHC1ÑO4.5H2O, The mono-chlor base is converted into the leuco base and the latter into the color compound with PC15. Leuco base easily converted into the color base with halogens. Color base reduced to the leuco base with reducing agents. Further work may show a close relationiship with sanguinarine, which is also colorless in the free state and bright red in the form of salt. Mixture of nitric acid and glacial acetic acid oxidizes chelidonine, in the cold and on long standing, to a beautifully crystalline acid melting above 300o.

J. O. Schlotterbeck and Walter H. Blome: chemistry of bocconia cordata.

A contribution to the

Bocconia cordata or tree celandine is a native of Japan. but has been successfully grown in several countries. It was made the subject of investi gation by Eijkman, Hopfgartner and Murrill and Schlotterbeck. The latter found five alkaloids, protopine, B-homochelidonine, chelerythrine, sanguinarine and a fifth melting at 100o. In the present work 25 k. of drug was exhausted and only protopine and B-homochelidonine separated, of which 87 and 85 grammes respectively were obtained.

B-(Beta) homochelidonine may be converted into the d-(gamma) variety by melting and crystallizing from appropriate solvents. Heated with hydrochloric acid in a sealed tube methyl chloride is split off. The study of the water-soluble amorphous basic residue was not concluded.

It was found that when heated with alcoholic iodine under pressure. B-homochelidonine splits off no hydrogen as is the case with several related

alkaloids.

Heated in chloroformic solution under pressure with PC, a well-crys tallized, yellow basic substance is obtained. Chlorine determinations demonstrated the product to be a hydrochlorate without any substitution of chlorine in the molecule. A number of combustions, though agreeing among themselves, failed to harmonize with any formula that would answer for chlorine. It is quite possible that a base and an acid result from this reaction. Calcium phosphate was found in abundance in the plant.

J. O. Schlotterbeck and C. R. Eckler: The structure and development of the seed of Argemone mexicana.

This is a microscopical study of the seed of the Prickly Poppy from the very youngest stages of the ovule to the ripe seed.

A. B. Stevens: - Japanese Lac. (An exudation from Rhus vernicifera.)

One might conclude from the title of this paper that it would be of greater interest to the painter than to the chemist and pharmacist, but there are reasons why it is of interest to the latter. 1st. Because it contains a non-volatile poison similar to, if not identical with, poison ivy. 2nd. It contains a gum said to be identical with gum arabic. 3d. It contains a

soluble enzyme which acts as an oxidizing agent. 4th. The lac when hardened, by the action of the enzym, is the most indestructible of any known lac, resisting the action of acid, alkalies and the ordinary solvents, as alcohol, ether, etc. The latter fact makes it especially serviceable in the manufacture of various utensils, such as developing trays, etc.

W. W. Stockberger: - The drug known as pink root.

Historical outline of knowledge of pink root (Spigelia marilandica). Early confusion between this plant and Spigelia anthelmia of West Indies, which confusion extended to chemical and physiological investigations. Later confusion between pink root and Ruellia sp. which still persists and has crept into some recent text books.

General substitution practiced. Phlox carolina erroneously regarded as a considerable adulterant of Spigelia due to confusion of Ruellia with Phlox. Confusion extends to chemical work. "Phloxol" derived really from Ruellia. Differences gross and microscopic between Ruellia and Spigelia and Phlox pointed out. Not surprising that Spigelia should have taken less important place in medicine than formerly, since Ruellia is relatively inert.