Coca. vestigator in Philadelphia states that he was obliged to import direct from London to get any that would meet the pharmacopoeial requirements. E. L. Patch. 15 lots of Huanuco coca assayed from 0.43 per cent. to 0.32 per cent. 6 lots of Truxillo coca: 0.61 per cent., 0.73 per cent., 0.78 per cent., 0.83 per cent., 0.46 per cent., 0.77 per cent. Average 0.69 per cent. Huanuco has the best J. M. Francis. Colchicum Root. aroma and contains more cocaine and less isotropyl-cocaine. 17 lots assayed from 0.2 per cent. to 0.4 per cent. They averaged 0.35 per cent., or U. S. P. 4 lots were below this standard. J. M. Francis. Colchicum Seed. II lots assayed from 0.5 per cent. to 0.9 per cent., average 0.6 per cent. low the U. S. P. standard of 0.55 per cent. J. M. Francis. Colchicine. 4 were be 3 lots contained only 63 per cent., 63.6 per cent., and 66.7 per cent. pure alkaloid, although labeled pure colchicine, and obtained from a prominent manufacturer. J. M. Francis. Colocynth Pulp. Yielded to dilute alcohol, 49.6 per cent., 46.5 per cent. extractive. E. L. Patch. 100 lbs. of drug yields 30 lbs. of pulp, 10%1⁄2 lbs. of extract. If the seeds are extracted with benzin to remove oil; dried, extracted with 75 per cent. alcohol, the extract is almost as active as the U. S. P. product. J. M. Francis. Still frequently adulterated with gurjun balsam. Almost the exception to find pure article. E. H. Gane. 10 samples of para copaiba yielded 31 per cent. to 48 per cent. resin. Average 40 per cent. E. L. Patch. Samples of Central American yielded from 50 per cent. to 56 per cent. of resin. One sample contained common resin. 5 samples contained fixed oil or gurjun balsam. E. L. Patch. 6 samples examined, one contained gurjun balsam. Pa. Ph. Assoc. Sp. gr. ranges from 0.924 to 0.938 in light varieties, while the products answer all other tests. Inexperienced men may condemn pure copaiba as containing gurjun balsam by U. S. P. test. J. M. Francis. Cream of Tartar. 45 samples examined. 30 were pure, 15 were impure, I contained alum, 3 were mostly alum, 10 contained alum and phosphate and one a large amount of calcium sulphite. No. Dak. Report. 58 samples examined. 17 deficient. N. Y. Com. of Adulteration. Cresol. 3 out of 6 samples answered the Pharmacopoeial tests. E. L. Patch. Almost impossible to find a U. S. P. product. J. M. Francis. Beechwood Creosote. Sample contained neutral oils. E. H. Gane. Cusso. Chiefly staminate flowers. Henry Kraemer. Ergot. Lower than the usual average in extractive. 7 bales: 13.5 per cent., 13.9 per cent., 13.8 per cent., 13.3 per cent., 13.4 per cent., 14.8 per cent., 14.4 per cent. E. L. Patch. Acetic Ether. One sample 83.6 per cent. U.S. P. standard 90 per cent. E. L. Patch. Concentrated Ether. Common unwashed ether 74 per cent. sold, instead of 99 per cent. 2 samples had acid reaction and yielded residue. Strength was U. S. P. One sample answering all other tests gave a brown residue. E. L. Patch. Eucalyptol. Contains oil of eucalyptus. J. M. Francis. Florida Water. Prominent New York make was mostly wood alcohol. No. Dak. Report. Formaldehyde. 31 samples examined, 27 inferior. Ohio Food Com. Guarana. 4.24 per cent., 4.32 per cent., 4.9 per cent. E. L. Patch. Ginger Root. A product that had been exhausted in making fluidextract, then dried and powdered, was offered for sale. H. H. Rusby. Gelsemium. 12 samples averaged to assay 0.43 per. cent. alkaloid. The lowest 0.25 per cent., the highest 0.5 per cent. J. M. Francis. Guaiac Resin. 90 per cent. of the samples examined gave 85 per cent. or more of alcohol-soluble resin. 70 per cent. gave over 96 per cent. alcohol-soluble resin. J. M. Francis. Headache Powders. Formula claimed: Acetanilid, 4 grs. Phenacetin, I gr. Caffeine, I gr., etc. The contents were: Acetanilid, 5 gr. Sodium bicarbonate, I gr. Phenacetin, none. Aromatics and sugar-of-milk, q. s. Claim: Acetanilid, 3 gr. Phenacetin, I gr. Caffeine, I gr., etc. Contents: Acetanilid, 4 gr. Sodium bicarbonate, I gr. Phenacetin, none. Aromatic powder and sugar-of-milk. Caffeine, gr. Hemlock Bark. Mixed with æthusa synapium, and sometimes substituted by it wholly. E. H. Gane. Hyoscyamus. 15 lots assayed 0.111. 2 were below 0.08. C. E. Venderkleed. 2 lots assayed 0.0465, 0.037. E. H. Gane. Average of lots examined was 0.1. J. M. Francis. Hardly any comes to New York which is second year's growth, as the U. S. P. requires. H. H. Rusby. Hydrogen Dioxide. Invariably above 3 per cent. C. E. Vanderkleed. 46 samples examined, only 4 deficient. N. Y. Com. of Adulteration. Hydrastis. Assayed as follows: 1.93 per cent., 2.9 per cent., 2.96 per cent., 3.16 per cent., 3.26 per cent., 3.68 per cent., 3.76 per cent. hydrastine. E. L. Patch. Hydrastin Resinoid. All sorts of products sold under this name. One labeled as representing the combined principles of the drug assayed but 2.8 per cent. hydrastin. No stronger than much of the root. Another said to contain 20 per cent. of hydrastin gave 7.4 per cent. Another 27 per cent. of hydrastin. Samples of powdered extract of hydrastis were found assaying as high as 11.1 per cent., and this product was marketed at one-half the price of some of the low-testing hydrastis. E. L. Patch. Tincture Iodine. Mass. State Board of Health. were of full strength; 10 con 60 per cent. of the samples were found to be official. 584 samples examined, 8 contained wood alcohol, but tained wood alcohol, and were deficient in strength; 54 were deficient in strength only. N. Y. Com. of Adulteration. Iodoform. Slight excess of soluble iodides and chlorides. E. L. Patch. Ipecacuanha, Carthagena. Assayed 1.85 per cent. Rio, 1.88 per cent., 1.6 per cent., 1.9 per cent., 1.95 per cent., 1.75 per cent., 2.3 per cent., 2.05 per cent., 1.55 per cent. E. H. Gane. One sample marked "probably high test "assayed 1.52 per cent. C. E. Vanderkleed. Iron Phosphate Scale. 2 lots insoluble. 2 lots slowly soluble but completely soluble. 2 lots ammonio salts and not sodium salts. E. L. Patch. Dried Sulphate of Iron. 88.43 per cent., 84.85 per cent., 84.5 per cent. E. L. Patch. Pyrophosphate of Iron Scale. Labeled U. S. P. Was not U. S. P. Contained 12.8 per cent. iron, 9 per cent. ammonia. E. L. Patch. Falap. 70 per cent. of the samples examined were above 8 per cent of resin; 30 per cent. were below 6 per cent. of resin. The highest was 10.5 per cent. resin. J. M. Francis. One lot assayed 11 43 per cent. resin. E. L. Patch. Faborandi. U. S. P. standard of 0.4 per cent. alkaloid is reasonable. In the period from 1895 to 1900, 22 lots averaged to assay 0.55 per cent., only 3 assayed above 0.75 per cent. In the period from 1900 to 1905, 19 lots averaged 0.81 per cent,, 12 above 0.75 per cent., and only one below 0.5 per cent. J. M. Francis. Larkspur Seed. 1.6 per cent. alkaloid. 0.4 per cent. alkaloid, 17.7 per cent. oil. 0.96 per cent. alkaloid, 21.9 per cent. oil. 0.4 per cent. alkaloid, 18 per cent oil. 0.92 per cent. alkaloid. 1.68 per cent. alkaloid. E. L. Patch. Extract Lemon. 143 samples examined. 61 up to the standard in oil; 113 colored, 43 with dinitrocresol, 17 with tropaeolin, 53 with anilines not classified. 48 were below the stand ard in oil ranging from 0.5 per cent to 4,48 per cent. 34 did not contain any oil. 5th Report Ill. Food Com. 64 samples examined; 56 adulterated. Ohio Food Com. 56 samples examined; 37 standard, 11 deficient in oil, 8 without oil, 8 artificially colored, I had wood alcohol. No. Dak. Report. One sample was half wood alcohol. Sulphurated Lime. Mass. Board of Health. Of 24 lots only 3 were below the 60 per cent. standard of the Pharmacopoeia. The lowest was 38 per cent. the highest 85 per cent. The average 70.5 per cent. J. M. Francis. 66.5 per cent., 73.3 per cent. E. L. Patch Co. Lithium Citrate. Contains but 80 per cent. of lithium citrate. Pa. Ph. Asso. Dried at 100 centigrade gave from 85 per cent. to 89 per cent. lithium citrate by the pharmacopoeial test. It is claimed that a higher degree of heat should be used to make the salt anhydrous, not less than 120 centigrade. This additional loss of water would improve the results given above. Linseed Meal. The Pharmacopoeia has advanced the proportion of oil from 25 per cent. to 30 per cent. Nearly all that the trade is obtaining is below 30 per cent. Samples from the principal source of supply gave 23.95 per cent. of oil, 27.3 per cent., 27.3 per cent., 26.3 per cent., 26.7 per cent., 26.65 per cent., 28.15 per cent. 12 barrels especially ordered gave 35.5 per cent., 35.5 per cent., 35.8 per cent., 35.3 per cent., 35.5 per cent., 35.6 per cent., 34.8 per cent., 34.5 per cent., 35.3 per cent., 35.4 per cent., 34.5 per cent., 37 per cent. of oil completely saponifiable. Druggists should not store this product in paper bags as they have been doing. From a small purchase the paper absorbs a large amount of oil and the product assays still lower than when purchased. E. L. Patch. Lycopodium. Several substitutes are offered under fancy names. Some are ferruginous earths mixed with true lycopodium; some dextrin and pine pollen. Some are adulterated with resinous compounds prepared by the action of anhydrous ammonia upon wet resin. E. H. Gane. 3 samples averaged 2 per cent. ash and gave a slight coloration with iodine. Microscopically examined did not detect impurity. E. L. Patch. Lupulin. 65 per cent. soluble in alcohol, 29 per cent. insoluble, 6 per cent. moisture, 13 per cent. of ash. E. L. Patch. Mace. 12 samples adulterated with nutmeg, wheat, starch, ginger. 5th Report Ill. Food Com. 4 samples gave 31.3 per cent. of oil, 35.7 per cent., 30.5 per cent., 30.4 per cent. A sample of whole gave 30.4 per cent. All these samples yielded a blue color with iodine. A freshly powdered pure drug also gave a blue color with iodine. Some authorities state that there is no starch present in mace and the iodine coloration may be read by investigators as indicating an adulteration. Other reliable authorities state that mace contains 1.8 per cent. of a substance intermediate between starch and gum giving a blue color with iodine. E. L. Patch. Magnesia Calcined. Not white in color. Contained iron, contained magnesium carbonate, contained cal cium, assayed 82.9 per cent. MgO. E. L. Patch. Mercuric Oxide. Large residue left on ignition. Not U. S. P. E. L. Patch. Mercuric Chloride Crystals. Contained an unusual amount of calomel. Milk Sugar. Adulterated with a fine grade of glucose commercially known as confectioner's grape sugar or starch sugar. Different lots differ greatly in density. E. H. Gane. Comparative bulk is as 25.8 per cent. to 31 per cent. E. L. Patch. Lots sold as pure sugar-of-milk consists of 52 per cent. lactose, 48 per cent. glucose. Lederle Laboratories. Lots sold as milk sugar substitute were 12 per cent. lactose, 88 per cent. glucose. Lederle Laboratories. Product sold as pure sugar-of-milk contained 24 per cent. and 28 per cent. glucose. E. L. Patch. Mustard. 59 samples examined; 9 adulterated with turmeric, corn meal, wheat starch, rice starch, wheat flour. 5th Report Ill. Food Com. Myrrh. Contained much foreign matter and cheap acacia. E. L. Patch. Commercial whole myrrh contains from 43 per cent. to 50 per cent. of alcohol-soluble matter. The average is 50 per cent. The powdered myrrh yields from 30 per cent. to 38 per cent. alcohol-soluble matter. It has absorbent material added to it to make the powder permanent. J. M. Francis. Nutmegs. Poor, wormy and worthless. H. H. Rusby. Conct. Nitrous Ether. Assayed 60.5 per cent., instead of 88 per cent. E. H. Gane. Nux Vomica. Lots assayed 1.27 per cent. strychnine, 2.76 per cent. total alkaloids. 1.308 per cent. strychnine, 3.4 per cent. total alkaloids. 1.22 per cent. alkaloid, 1.25 per cent. alkaloid. E. L. Patch. One sample assayed 1.47 per cent. strychnine. Considerable is above the U. S. P. standard. E. H. Gane. 7 lots averaged to assay 1.1 per cent. strychnine; only one exceeded 1.25 per cent. C. E. Vanderkleed. Oil of Sweet Almonds. Lots purchased for true oil of sweet almonds were true to name. not specified, peach kernel oil was sent. E. L. Patch. Oil of Anise. For others quality Optical rotation +0.25°, insoluble in five volumes of co per cent. alcohol. Did not congeal at Ico. E. H. Cane. Oil of Bitter Almond. U. S. P. standard 85 per cent. benzaldehyde and 2 per cent. to 4 per cent. of hydrocyanic acid. One lot assayed 1.49 per cent. of hydrocyanic acid; another lot 1.78 per cent.; another lot 2.3 per cent. E. 1. Patch. Oil of bitter almond and benzaldehyde are to all intents and purposes the same and the pharmacist might as well specify synthetic benzaldehyde in ordering. J. M. Francis. This recommendation seems to be misleading and in error. The two products are not identical. Benzaldehyde must not contain any hydrocyanic acid. It can be used in making flavoring extracts and for general purposes of flavoring and perfuming. It cannot be used for making the official bitter-almond water and spirit of bitter |