William Dickson having ascertained that a solution of 20 Gm. of camphor in 80 Cc. of olive oil measured 100 Cc., and that therefore the volume and weight of camphor in 100 Cc. of the finished camphor liniment are identical, propose the following modification of the method of assaying: (a) The specific gravity of the liniment is taken at 15.5° C. (b) The weight of liniment equal to 10 Cc. is placed in a weighed beaker, 6.5 Cm. deep by 3.5 Cm. in diameter. (c) Into a similar beaker an amount of olive oil of ascertained specific gravity, equal to 8 Cc., is weighed. This represents the amount of olive oil in 10 Cc. of a properly prepared liniment. (d) The beakers are placed in a sand bath and heated at 150° C. to constant weight-the time required being from 30 to 40 minutes. The loss in weight having been ascertained, that found in the olive oil (c) is deducted from the loss in the liniment (b), thereby allowing for any change which may take place in the oil during the operation, in enabling a correct determination of the percentages of camphor in the liniment. In practice, the authors, who give analytical data, found the loss in the oil to average 0.162 per cent. Pharm. Journ., Mar. 10, 1906, 281.

In view of the wide diversity of opinion regarding the proper temperature to employ for the determination of camphor in camphor liniment, the time required for complete volatilization, and the correction to be made on account of changes in the olive oil, John Lothian again calls attention to the method of assay advocated by him, which consists in simply heating the camphorated oil in a shallow, flat-bottomed dish on a water-bath for an hour. Instead of a shallow, porcelain basin, however, it is better to use a cylindrical glass dish, 1 Cm. in height and 8 Cm. inside diameter. The cover of a culture dish answers well. The superficies of such a dish is 50 square Cm., and when 5 Cc. of oil is placed in it there is a layer of oil 1 Mm. deep. It is better to use half that quantity. The dish is supported on a copper ring of the same inside diameter placed on the waterbath and levelled, so as to obtain a uniform layer. The bath should be nearly filled with water, which is kept boiling briskly, no further attention. being required until an hour has elapsed, when the dish is taken off, quickly cooled, weighed, and the loss determined. The results obtained. by using a deep cylindrical dish of the same diameter dipping in the water were not so good. This is due to the difficulty of maintaining a layer of oil of uniform depth. The behavior of the olive oil, however, must be taken into account, and in practice it is not found advantageous. to continue the heating beyond one hour, as after the camphor is expelled the oil begins to take on a bleached appearance and to gain weight; as much as 2 Cgm. may be gained on heating for another hour. The olive oil itself, heated under the same conditions, did not gain in weight. It is evident that the oil is affected in some way by the camphor, and the author, therefore, places no reliance on correction figures obtained by heating plain olive oil under the same conditions as camphorated oil.-Pharm. Journ., April 28, 1906, 493.

Linimentum Potassii Iodidi cum Sapone, B. P.-Improved Formula.Discussing the trouble experienced in the preparation of the official (B. P.) liniment of potassium iodide with soap, James Haddock recommends the following formula: Coconut oil, 16 parts; caustic potash, 5 parts; water, 20 parts; glycerin, 16 parts; potassium iodide, 4 parts; water (second portion), 4 parts. In a tared dish, large enough to allow for frothing, dissolve the caustic potash in the first portion of water, on a sandbath. Into this solution strain the coconut oil, previously melted, apply heat until saponification is completed, add the glycerin, and evaporate until almost reduced to the required weight. Dissolve the iodide in the remainder of the water, add to the contents of the dish, and continue evaporation to the required weight. Strain into a container and allow to cool. The process occupies no longer time than the official method, and may be carried out, without inconvenience, at the dispensing-counter if necessary. Chem. & Drug., Jan. 6, 1906, 26.

Saponated Iodoform Liniment- A Preparation Suitable for Inunctions. -The non-absorbability of iodoform by the skin has heretofore prevented its extended use for topical application. A. Blanchi finds, however, that in the following combination the iodoform is readily absorbed by the skin: 35 parts of powdered potassium hydroxide are dissolved in 25 parts of water in a flask, provided with a tale stopper, 50 parts of pure oleinic acid are added, and the mixture is vigorously shaken; then 30 parts of alcohol are added, followed by 30 parts of sublimed iodine, in portions at a time, with continued but gentle agitation. If the mixture becomes colorless, more iodine is added in small portion until a slight excess is evidenced by permanent color; whereupon the slight excess is removed by the addition of alkali. After standing several days, the clear solution is decanted into small bottles of dark glass. The product is a yellow, syrupy fluid, having the odor of iodoform, permanent in the light (? Rep.) and air, and is readily miscible with water, alcohol, ether, chloroform, carbon disulphide, benzin, volatile and fixed oils, etc. When applied to the unbroken skin it is readily absorbed-Pharm. Ztg., 1, No. 95, (1905), 1002; from Boll. Chim. Farm., 1905, No. 20.

Linimentum Terebinthinatum-Improved Formula.-G. Stein observes that turpentine liniment, which formerly was dispensed in the form of a thick liquid resembling ammonia liniment, has in recent years, with the addition of alcohol to the soft soap, been supplied in the form of a clear liquid. Its successful preparation in an acceptable condition depends largely on the purity of the soft soap employed, but becomes uniformly possible if the following formula and manipulation be observed: 40 parts of fused potassium hydroxide, 20 parts of water, too parts of alcohol, 210 parts of linseed oil, and 200 parts of oil of turpentine are gently heated together, until a clear solution is effected; the liquid is then gradually

mixed with 100 parts of water, shaking after each addition, and then heated until complete saponification is effected. The soap solution so obtained is then gradually diluted with 330 parts of oil of turpentine.Pharm. Ztg., li, No. 2 (1906), 18.

LIQUORES.

Percentage Solutions-Calculated Quantities.—Roy M. Riley has calculated the quantities of medicament required to make 1 pint, wine measure (U. S. P., 1880, et ante), of percentage solutions of different strengths, which may be conveniently consulted in the following table :

Percentage solution. Quantity for I pint. Percentage solution. Quantity for 1 pint.

Liquor Cresolis Compositus, U.S. P.-Modification of Formula.-Complaints both as to quality of the cresol on the market and the practicability of the official process for preparing the compound solution induced Charles H. LaWall and E. Fullerton Cook to inquire into the facts of the Regarding the commercial quality of cresol, experiments made with six samples, three of them of American, English and German origin respectively show them all to respond fairly well to the official requirement as regards boiling point, but they show some variations in the specific gravity and also in their solubility in water. In fact, none of them form absolutely clear solutions, a flocculent material depositing in all even with excessive quantities of water. On the other hand, they were all free from hydrocarbons, and form clear solutions with sodium hydroxide solutions. The variations observed appear therefore to be due to the varying proportions of the three isomers which go to make up the official substance.

Concerning the formula the authors find that a slight modification will answer perfectly for producing a preparation which is transparent as soon as completed, and which mixes clear with all proportions of water without any delay whatever. It consists in first preparing a soft soap, using the same amounts of linseed oil and potassium hydroxide as directed for the preparation of the official compound solution of cresol, but following the details of the process officially directed for soft soap. The latter (from

350 Gm. of linseed oil) being finished, it is dissolved in 500 Gm. of cresol, and a sufficient quantity of water is added to make the solution weigh 1000 Gm. The authors furthermore find that equally good results are obtained, if only two-thirds the amount of soap is used.-Amer. Journ. Pharm., April, 1906, 169-172.

Liquor Cresolis Compositus, U. S. P., VIII.-Improvement of Formula. -Paul Caldwell observes that the cresol should be added after the soap has been formed, thus securing at once a clear compound solution of cresol, but even then the product is not miscible with water to form a clear solution unless at least 5 per cent. of glycerin be added. This will allow dilution to any extent.-Drugg. Circ., 1906, 159.

Liquor Formaldehydi Saponatus Formula of the Saxon Pharmaceutical District Societies.-Liquor kali caustici, 26.0; spiritus (0.830), 10.0; oleinum redistillatum, 20.0; formaldehydum sol. (G. P. iv), 44.0; oleum lavandulæ, gtts. iii. M.-Pharm. Ztg., li, No. 3 (1906), 30.

Solution of Glycerophosphates-Formula.-Reginald Edgar Dyer recommends the following formula for preparing a solution of glycerophosphates:

Sweet Solution of Hypophosphites Compound-Formula.-Adolph T. Marquier recommends a formula for making a compound solution of hypophosphites, which differs from the compound solution of hypophosphites of the N. F. essentially in the following particulars: the substitution of 8.5 Cc. of compound spirit of orange, U. S. P., for 35 Cc. of orange flower water, the addition of 8.0 Cc. of solution of saccharin N. F.-and of 90 Cc. of alcohol, and the use of quinine hypophosphite in place of the alkaloid. The product is claimed to be very stable under ordinary conditions, and to be very palatable.-Proc. N. J. Pharm. Assoc., 1905, 80-82.

66

Lime Water-Efficient Container.-B. E. Pritchard, in a paper on Caring for and Dispensing Lime Water," describes a container which has proven very efficient for keeping lime water in good condition. Selecting a large (5 gal.) bottle, a hole was drilled into the side, close to the bottom; the mouth of the bottle was fitted with a sound cork, bearing a glass tube extending, after insertion, several inches below the shoulder of

the bottle, and this tube was fitted with a neat brass cock extending from the outer-side of the cork. The orifice near the bottom of the bottle being closed with a good cork, lime water was made by the usual U. S. P. process, introduced into the bottle, and the cork being inserted into the neck, the bottle is inverted and placed into a position prepared for its reception by boring a hole of suitable size in a stout shelf. The undissolved lime settles in the neck and shoulder of the bottle, and the glass tube then extends into the clear liquid, which may then be withdrawn without disturbing the undissolved lime, as required, the cork closing the air-hole having previously been removed.-Proc. Pa. Pharm. Assoc., 1905, 179-181.

FIG. 43.

A similar expedient to the preceding, suitable for a large business, is suggested by Paul Caldwell, who uses a barrel for the purpose. After slaking and washing the lime, it is put in the barrel, which is then filled with water, and after thorough shaking to insure saturation is allowed to clarify by subsidence. A wooden spigot inserted into the barrel just above the point to which the lime settles will allow the lime water to be drawn off as required; or this may be done by means of a glass siphon provided with a rubber-tube extension and closed by a clamp. Drugg. Circ., July, 1905, 220.

Solution of Magnesium Citrate.-Method of Preparation.-Frank W. A. Hain recommends the following formula and method for preparing solution of magnesium citrate :

quantity first, and

Introduce the magnesium carbonate into a widemouthed 2-gallon bottle, drop the oil of lemon onto it, stir with a wooden stick, and then add the citric acid, the sugar, and water enough to come up to a mark on the bottle, indicating the presence of 240 ounces. For this purpose use cold water, adding about half of the the remainder when the substances are mostly dissolved. By allowing the solution to stand for a half to a whole day, it will then filter better and more quickly than when hot water is used. The filtration is most conveniently effected by the use of the automatic apparatus shown by Fig. 43, which is easily constructed. The bottle containing the solution is simply inverted so as to reach within the filter, the solution being supplied only