sufficient HC,H,O, to afford neutral solution and an alcoholic solution of KI added which will produce a sandy precipitate of quinidine hydriodate (C2H24N2O,HI). One part of this hydriodate when dried at 100° C., represents .717 parts of anhydrous quinidine. To the warmed filtrate from the latter precipitate, ammonia water is added until it ceases to produce a precipitate. The mixture is then shaken at once with ether, the etherial solution allowed to evaporate, and the residue dried at 100° C. In one sample this residue was contaminated with a small proportion of amorphous alkaloid; in this case the quinine was estimated as iodo sulphate or herapathite. The method of estimating by this will be found in any text book giving DeVry's process.

B.-(Insoluble in ether). This is converted into neutral acetate by addition of a sufficient quantity of acetic acid and to the solution potassium and sodium tartrate in slight excess is subsequently added. After stirring with a glass rod, the solution is left at rest for a day, when if cinchonidine is present in appreciable quantity, its tartrate will be separated in a crystalline form, while the other tartrates remain dissolved. The cinchonidine tartrate is collected, washed with a little cold water and dried at 100° C. and weighed. One part of cinchonidine tartrate (C2H24N2O)2C4H ̧O, represents .796 parts of pure cinchonidine. To the filtrate from the latter precipitate a solution of KI is added, and the whole well stirred with a glass rod. The quinidine will thus be precipitated as hydriodate, as a sandy crystalline powder ; it is collected on a filter, washed with cold water, first drying on bibulous paper, finally dried at 100° C. and weighed. One part of this hydriodate represents .717 parts of pure anhydrous quinidine.

6

The filtrate from the quinidine hydriodate is finally precipitated with NaOH, whereby cinchonine is obtained; this is collected on a filter, washed with a little cold water and after first drying between bibulous paper is finally dried at 100° C. and weighed.

Uncrystallizable alkaloid.

66 .362

Total alk'd matter soluble in ether...1.475 gms. Crystallizable,uncrystallizable and moist're 100

Non alkaloidal matter.

Total alkaloid matter sol. in ether.. 1.480 gms. =

HOFFMAN'S ANODYNE.

VIRGIL COBLENTZ, PH. G.

Query No. 22. Should commercial Hoffman's Anodyne be sold in place of spiritus etheris compositus of the United States Pharmacopoeia.

In answering this question in the strict sense of the word, one would naturally answer, as all conscientious pharmacists would, "Never substitute" and always dispense the officinal made article. Yet a question of this kind requires some consideration before answering, since we have other influences which come to bear on it, and alter the question somewhat. No doubt the majority of our porfession attempt or intentionally dispense (what they obtain through the trade as spiritus etheris compositus) the officinal made article. The intentions are the best no doubt, while many, not taking pains to make it themselves according to the U. S. P., obtain it through the wholesale trade as cheap as possible, thereby saving their time and money, since it can be bought in the marke cheaper than it can be made officinally. No doubt they could obtain the United States Pharmacopoeia article if they always insisted on having that and nothing else, and they would invariably obtain it, but very few pharmacists at present specify which article they desire to have, desiring at the same time to obtain it at the lowest market price; hence the wholesale dealer, through precedence and competition, is compelled to send the commercial article. Some pharmacists are in the habit of keeping both, dispensing the officinal on prescriptions and the commercial to the retail trade. Now, the question is why such a confusion in regard to such an old and popular article should arise, and whether the difference between the two is such as to warrant the substitution of one for the other.

In order to understand these points it becomes necessary to know some of its history as to its original composition and nature. The early history of its composition is somewhat conflicting, since it seems

that Hoffman, by whom it was introduced, never revealed its composition. In the earliest pharmacopoeias, both English and Continental, we have it mentioned under the following numerous heads: 1, Æthæ alcoholecus; 2, Spiritus Sulphurico Æthereus; 3, Spiritus Vitroli Dulcis; 4, Spiritus Æthereus Sulphuricus Compositus; 5, Æthereus Sulphuricus Alcoholisatus; 6, Acidum Vitriolicum Vinosum; 7, Anodynus Martialis ; 8, Liquor Anodynus Mineralis Hoffmani. This last name is the one said to have been given by the originator. Lewis' Dispensatory of 1768 states that, from Hoffman's own writings, his anodyne liquor was composed of the dulcified spirit of vitriol (crude ether) and the aromatic oil which rises after it, but not in what proportions he mixes them together. The College of Wurtemburg states that all the oil was mixed with all the oil obtained in one operation, without regard to the precise quantities. Coxe's Dispensatory of 1825, under the head of "Etheras Sulphurici Compositus," or Hoffman's anodyne liquor, gives the following:

R-Spirits of sulphuric ether.

Ethereal oil ...

Mix.

0 1

fl. dr. 2

This preparation is intended as a substituie for the Liquor anodynus mineralis of Hoffman, although its composition was never revealed by him. Dr. Powell, in his translations of London Pharmacopoeia of 1809, states "I have not been able to find any part of Hoffman's works in which it is particularly specified." The Dublin Pharmacopoeia of 1850, however, changes this, and under the name Spiritus etherus oleosus gives the following formula, which includes the preparation of the oil of wine and its subsequent solution to make the anodyne. "Mix one pint of alcohol and 11⁄2 pints of oil of vitriol in a glass matrass, adapt a Liebig condenser, and by heat distil until a black froth rises, separate the lighter etherial liquid in the receiver, expose it for twenty-four hours in a capsule, wash the residual oil with water, and dissolve it in a mixture of 5 fluid ounces of ether and 10 of alcohol." Now, while the English pharmacopoeias recommend the mixture of alcohol and ether, the European authorities recommend a mixture of rectified spirits and ether; the

French in equal proportions; Russian, 2 to one of 0.800 specific gravity; Hager gives in proportion of 3 of rectified spirits to 1 of ether of 0.810 to 0.816 specific gravity. Lastly, in order to illustrate the uncertainty and difference of composition as given together in the same work, the German Pharmacopoeia Universalis of 1847 states: "The impure ether, especially that mixed with alcohol, bears the name acidium sulphuricum alcaholisatume. This mixture is, as regards composition and character of its constituents, very valuable, though generally only alcohol and ether are assumed as present. Most pharmacopoeias in which it is prepared by distillation recommend freeing the product from sulphurous acid. It is made in three different ways: First, by distillation-equal parts of alcohol and H2SO; second, by simple mixture-1 part ether and 1 part alcohol; third, by mixing 3 drachms liq. ætherus oleosus with 1 part ether." From these statements it seems that the product was made without any regard to the isolation of the oil of wine, or any definite proportion to be maintained. At the present time it is usual for the manufacturers to push the process as far as possible, obtaining a product containing alcohol, ether and water, contaminated with a little light oil of wine. This rectified by a second distillation, the portion coming over at or below 54°B, being set aside as rectified ether. The less volatile products are then drawn over, these consisting of ether, alcohol, and water, until it is brought up to correspond as closely as possible to the specific gravity and reactions of the officinal.

From the nature of conditions the product is liable to vary in regard to the proportion of its ingredients, even in different charges, though in the same laboratory. If the heat should not be regulated, and be too low, unaltered alcohol, and toward the last of the process, should the heat be too high, oil of wine and sulphurous acid would be the result. There can be little doubt but that the original reputation of compound spirits of ether was based on the intrinsic curative value of etherial oil as the anodyne ingredient, but why it is not now in general use, as formerly, seems that the dependence in its value by physicians has considerably diminished through the almost general adoption and use of the commer