contains the poisonous glucoside, potassium atractylate, may be detected as follows: 50 Gm. of the extract is dissolved in a little water and the dense solution mixed with about 500 c.c. of EtOH, treated with animal charcoal, allowed to stand, filtered, and reduced by distillation to a small volume. After diluting with a little water, the liquid is made distinctly alkaline with NaOH, boiled for half an hour in a reflux apparatus, cooled, acidified with dilute H2SO4, and distilled to small volume in a current of steam. The presence in the distillate of valeric acid. one of the products of the alkaline hydrolysis of potassium atractylate, is indicated by the odour. The residue from the distilling flask is saturated with (NH4)2SO4, boiled for 15 minutes with EtOH and animal charcoal, and filtered. Concentration of the filtrate and subsequent dilution with water result in the precipitation of another hydrolytic product, atractyligenin, which is purified by further treatment with EtOH and charcoal. The cold residue formed on evaporation of a drop of the filtered liquid on a watch-glass is treated with a few drops of strong H2SO4, which gives a yellowish coloration changing to carmine on addition of a little piperonaldehyde, vanillin, or other aromatic hydroxyaldehyde in aqueous solution.

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Mechanical Apparatus Used in Manufacturing in Connection with the Prescription Department. C. B. Washburne. (J. Amer. Pharm. Assoc., 1922, 11, 703.)

Powder Mixer. This can be made of any size from 25 lb. to 200 lb. capacity, as required. A rectangular box about 4 feet long with square ends, measuring 2 feet, is covered with cloth to prevent blowing. It is swung from the centre by short shafts supported by a strong substantial base, in order that it may be revolved end over end. The opening is at one end and the cover is fastened with clamps; this, when removed, will allow the placing of any desired mesh sieve in order that all powder may be sifted before completed for mixing. After the powder has passed through this process a latticed screen is placed in the centre of the mixer which breaks up the powder as the mixer is revolved, thus preventing it from sliding end to end in mass. This method will thoroughly mix any powder with a minimum of effort and without the customary distribution of dust.

Mixer for Liquids. This is constructed of an enamelled can, resting on a revolving base, with mixing paddles on the inside of the can which revolve in an opposite direction; this construction enables the operator to thoroughly mix any liquid, semiliquid or ointment in a most efficient manner. It is used for the stirring of cold creams, hydrous wool fat, milk of magnesia, and the mixing of ointments preparatory for the ointment mill.

The Ointment Mill is one of the ordinary variety of one-gallon capacity, fitted with a tight and loose pulley attachment. The ointment is first passed through the mixing machine described above and then through the mill. In this way better and smoother ointments are made than can be made by hand or mortar method, and also more economically, as the operation is performed by aid of electric power. These two machines soon pay for themselves in their labour-saving.

The suppository machine is a hand-power affair designed as follows: A heavy portable cast-iron tube is lined with brass and mounted on a very substantial base. This, when the machine is in operation, contains the suppository mass, sufficient for about 100 suppositories. A brass piston, operated by a large fly-wheel, exerts a great amount of pressure on the mass, thus moulding it and forcing the suppositories out of the opposite end in cylindrical form. They are then passed into a grooved container of a seventy-two suppository capacity. The cylinders are then cut and the suppositories are ready for pointing. The entire operation takes about 10 minutes.

For a grinding machine an ordinary hand-mill is selected which is converted into a power-machine by a pulley attachment. It may be employed for various purposes, such as grinding, NaOH; the powdering of NaBr, which often solidifies into almost unbreakable chunks; grinding drugs, such as cardamoms, thus obtaining a fresh unvolatilized drug. Tincture of Gentian Compound prepared from this powder produces a very superior tincture, both from the standpoint of fragrance and of palatability.

The machine used in mixing unctuous substances is an ordinary meat chopper of the larger variety equipped with a pulley and gear. A 15,000 suppository mass can be mixed in 11⁄2 hours. The result is a uniformly mixed mass that is above criticism, and is obtained with a minimum amount of labour. All of these machines, except those mentioned as being operated by hand-power, are operated by a 14 h.p. motor on a direct line shaft. They have given entire satisfaction, not only from the

viewpoint of pharmaceutical elegance of the products, but also from that of economy.

Medicinal Solutions, Preparation and Preservation of Certain. A. Labat. (Bull. Soc. Pharm. Bordeaux, 1922, 60, 104, through Chem. Abstr., 1922, 16, 4006.) Benzoic acid is a suitable preservative for solutions of many organic chemicals. For solutions of adrenalin 2: 1000 is sufficient to prevent discoloration or other deterioration. The solutions can be tyndallized or even sterilized by boiling without injury. For the preservation of solutions of morphine, stovaine, cocaine and novocaine, with or without the addition of epinephrine, 1: 100 is sufficient. In the past cherry laurel water or phenol were added to hypodermic solutions to make them sterile. The former is ineffective and the latter causes pain on injection. Benzoic acid is a stronger antiseptic and is inoffensive. (See also Y.B., 1922, 237.)

Mercurosal, Characters and Tests for. (J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 1923, 80, 846.) Disodiumhydroxymercurisalicyloxyacetate(HOHg).NaOOC.CH3.OCH2COONa. Mercurosal contains from 43.0 to 43.8 per cent. of Hg in organic combination.

Actions and Uses. - It is claimed that mercurosal is relatively free from irritant action, that it is eliminated without untoward effect on the kidney, and that its toxicity is relatively lower than HgCl, and Hg(C7H5O3)2. Mercurosal is intended for the mercurial treatment of syphilis. Administered either intramuscularly or intravenously. It does not precipitate protein.

Dosage. The usual intramuscular dose is 0.05 Gm. dissolved in 2 c.c. of sterile water every fourth or fifth day for 10 or 12 doses. The usual intravenous dose is 0.1 Gm. dissolved in 5 c.c. of sterile water administered every second or third day for 10 or 12 doses.

Mercurosal is a white, amorphous powder. It is soluble in about 10 parts of water, insoluble in the usual organic solvents. Dilute aqueous solutions are quite stable when protected from air, but on prolonged standing may give rise to an insoluble compound. It is decomposed by acids, strong reducing agents ; salts of heavy metals, such as Ag or Pb, yield insoluble precipitates. From a 1 to 2 per cent. aqueous solution of mercurosal, CaCl2 precipitates a calcium salt which dissolves on subsequent dilution with water. Mercurosal is faintly alkaline to phenolphthalein solution. When an aqueous solution is treated with an alkali hydroxide, a clear solution results. No precipitate is produced when an aqueous solution is saturated with CO2.

When an aqueous solution is acidified with HC2H3O2 or with mineral acids, a white precipitate is produced. Heat mercurosal, 1 Gm., with hydrochloric acid (1 : 1), 25 c.c. until decomposition has taken place, cool and collect the precipitate; dissolve the precipitate in alkali, filter, reprecipitate and crystallize from water; these crystals melt at 192° C. (salicylacetic acid). Treat an aqueous solution of mercurosal with iodine solution, acidify with hydrochloric acid and collect the precipitate; after drying the precipitate melts at 217° C. Saturate an aqueous solution of mercurosal with HS; no precipitate is produced (absence of "inorganic" Hg). Dry mercurosal at 100° C. for 1 hour; the loss does not exceed 1 per cent. Dissolve about 0.4 Gm. of dried mercurosal, accurately weighed, in water 5 c.c.; add concentrated HCl, 5 c.c.; cover the beaker and digest on a steam bath until solution takes place; dilute to from 100 to 125 c.c. with water and saturate with H.S; collect the precipitate in a tared Gooch crucible; wash successively with water, EtOH and EtO,; dry to constant weight at 100° C.; the weight of HgS corresponds to from 43 to 43.8 per cent. of Hg. A physiologic test is made which shows the comparative shock which is caused by large doses of 2 per cent. solution when given intravenously. The immediate lethal dose per kilogram body weight of rabbit, practically identical with the dose causing shock of this animal, is determined by a series of experiments with a 2 per cent. solution of each lot of mercurosal. Carefully selected rabbits, weighing from 2 to 4 kgm., are injected intravenously. Death must take place in from 7 to 15 minutes. The average dose of mercurosal immediately lethal and causing shock is 0.025 Gm. per kilogram of body-weight. (See also Y.B., 1922, 181.)

Neutral Acriflavine, Characters and Tests for. (New and Nonofficial Remedies: J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 1923, 80, 1455.) The base, 36 diamino-10 methylchloracridine, C1,H,N,Cl + H2O. Actions, Uses and Dosage.-Neutral acriflavine has the actions and uses of acriflavine, but being neutral in reaction is claimed not to have the smarting and irritating effect of acriflavine solutions. It is a brownish-red, odourless, granular powder; soluble in less than 2 parts of water, forming a brownish-red solution which fluoresces on dilution and which has a bitter taste; incompletely soluble in EtOH; nearly insoluble in Et2O, CHCI, and the fixed or volatile oils. An aqueous solution (1250) is neutral to congo paper (distinction from acriflavine

which has an acid reaction). Add a few drops of HCl to an aqueous solution of neutral acriflavine, which is sufficiently dilute to be fluorescent. The fluorescence disappears, but partially reappears on further dilution with water. Add 2 drops of H2SO4 to about 1 c.c. of an aqueous solution (1 : 250) and agitate the mixture. An orange-red precipitate is produced. An aqueous solution (1:250), acidified with HNO3, gives a precipitate with AgNO3 solution (distinction from proflavine). An aqueous solution (1: 250), acidified with HCl, does not give a precipitate with BaCl, solution (distinction from proflavine). An aqueous solution (1 : 250) does not give a precipitate with HCHO solution (distinction from proflavine, which gives a brown precipitate). Add 2 drops of dilute HCl to 5 c.c. of an aqueous solution (1: 250) and immediately add 2 drops of NaNO, solution (1:10). A violet colour is produced. By the further addition of an excess of NaNO, solution, a violet precipitate is formed and, after a few minutes, the colour of the solution becomes cherry-red. This may be best observed after filtration (distinction from proflavine, the filtrate from which is colourless). An aqueous solution (1 : 250) gives an orange precipitate with NaOH test solution (distinction from proflavine, which gives a yellow precipitate). Loss on drying at 100° not to exceed 10 per cent.; amount of matter insoluble in water not to exceed 0.5 per cent. ; Heat with an excess of sulphuric acid at a low temperature about 1 Gm. of neutral acriflavine, accurately weighed. The "sulphated" ash amounts to not more than 4 per cent.

Neo-Silvol, Characters and Tests for. (New and Non-official Remedies: J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 1923, 80, 1218.) A compound of AgI with a soluble gelatin base containing 18 to 22 per cent. of AgI in colloidal form.

Actions and Uses. Neo-Silvol, even in concentrated solutions, causes neither irritation of mucous membranes nor coagulation of albumin. It does not stain the skin. It is claimed that in laboratory tests for germicidal value it has been found as effective as phenol in its action on bacteria. Neo-silvol is intended for the prophylaxis against and treatment of infections of accessible mucous membranes and is claimed to be indicated in infections of the genito-urinary tract and of the eye, ear, nose and throat.

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Dosage. In the treatment of acute inflammations of the mucous membranes solutions of neo-silvol as strong as 50 per