Santyl. Another substitute for santal oil has been placed on the market under the name of santyl. It is described as the neutral salicylic ester of santalol, and is an almost odorless and tasteless fluid, the dose of which is about 30 drops daily. It is said not to disturb the stomach, nor to irritate the kidneys as sandalwood oil does.

Protosal a New Salicylic Compound.-Protosal is a complex ether of glycerin which, under the influence of acids and of dilute alkalis, decomposes into glycerin, formaldehyde and salicylic acid. It occurs as a colorless oily liquid, soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, benzin, castor oil, etc., less easily in oil of sesame and in olive oil. According the Laggnard (Journal de pharmacie et de chimie, March, 1906, page 295) it is used in the form of applications locally in equal parts of protosal and olive oil, to which 10 per cent. of alcohol had been added. Twelve hours after the first application salicylic acid will be found in the urine of the patient. The applications are not irritant, and have been used with success in the treatment of rheumatic pains.

Proponal a Homologue of Veronal.—The list of hypnotics grows steadily in length and complexity, and one of the newest is proponal, a homologue of veronal, which has just had time to become fairly well known. Proponal is simply a purified dipropylbarbituric acid prepared by Fischer and von Mering in the course of their researches on barbituric acids. Proponal occurs in the form of colorless, fusible crystals, soluble in 70 parts of boiling water, and 1,640 parts of cold water. The dose ranges from 0.15 to 0.50 grammes, and the remedy is said to be an excellent hypnotic. Being easily soluble in alkalies, it is readily absorbed by the intestines, so that its action is very prompt. It is given in powders or in alcoholic solution.-Journal de pharmacie et de chimie, 1906, March, page 294.

Soaps for Cleansing Fabrics.-The German soap journal, Seifenfabrikant, gives the following formulæ for the manufac ture of soaps for cleansing fabrics, etc.: White benzin soap is prepared by mixing thoroughly 57.6 kilos of olein and 6.8 kilos of water of ammonia of the specific gravity of 0.910. The resulting soap preparation can be dissolved in benzin, to yield a clear solution. It should not be heated in the process of mixing. Powdered benzin soap is prepared by mixing 56.8 kilos of stearin and 6.8 kilos of ammonia water of the same specific gravity as given above, cooling and powdering the mass. Liquid benzin soap is prepared in two qualities. The first, known as quality A, is used for the removal of stains which cannot be removed by benzin alone. It does not produce any grease spots nor does it fade the fabrics. Quality B serves to remove all impurities from the material in the cleaning vat, and is added to the benzin. It prevents the impure products from adhering to the material to be cleansed. Soap A is prepared by mixing 100 kilos of acetic ether with 6 kilos of soft soap. Soap B is made by mixing 30 kilos of 60 per cent. alcohol and 10 kilos of Marseilles soap. To this mixture are added benzin, 100 kilos; benzole, 20 kilos, and olein, 10 kilos.

Hydrogen Dioxide as a Preservative of Milk: Its Detection.-Paul Adam (Journal de pharmacie et de chimie, March, 1906, page 263) sums up his study of the detection of hydrogen dioxide in milk as follows: Raw fresh milk in which there is no hydrogen dioxide when treated with hydrogen dioxide and guaiacol turns a garnet-red; with paraphenylenediamine it turns blue, and in the presence of aldehydes decolorizes methylene blue. Decomposed or stale milk does not give the first two reactions mentioned, but decolorizes Schardinger's reagent. The latter consists of a concentrated alcoholic solution of methylene blue, 5 Cc.; formaldehyde, 5 Cc., and distilled water, 190 Cc. Raw milk which contains hydrogen dioxide gives the color reaction with guaiacol, or with paraphenylenediamine, but does

not decolorize Schardinger's reagent. Raw milk which had been treated with hydrogen dioxide, but which no longer contains this substance, gives the same reactions as pure milk if hydrogen dioxide be added to it. Unless the milk has decomposed, however, it does not decolorize Schardinger's reagent. Boiled milk gives none of these reactions. The conclusion to be drawn from these reactions is that the reducing ferment of milk is destroyed by the oxidizing agent.

Detection of Diacetic Acid in the Urine.-Aceto-acetic or diacetic acid (CHO) may be present in the urine in considerable quantity, especially when there is an excess of acetone present. The presence of this substance is usually a serious symptom in diabetes and fevers. The ordinary method of detecting this interesting substance in the urine is that of Von Jaksch, by the addition of ferric chloride solution to produce a deep Bordeaux-red color. A new method of detecting acetoacetic acid has, however, been devised by Riegler (Münchener Medizinische Wochenschrift, 1905, page 29), which is as follows: Fifteen Cc. of the urine and 2 Cc. of a 10 per cent. solution of hydriodic acid are shaken with chloroform. If aceto-acetic acid is absent the chloroform will take up the color of iodine from the hydriodic acid. If diacetic acid is present in the urine the chloroform will not change color. The reaction therefore involves a negative color change. A modification of this test has been introduced by Lindemann: Instead of hydriodic acid a solution of potassium iodide and iodine is used (Lugol's solution) together with a little acetic acid. The latter is added to render the reagent acid. Five drops of acetic acid to 10 Cc. of urine usually prove sufficient for this purpose. The solution of iodine is composed of 1 Gm. of iodine, 2 Gm. of potassium iodide, and 100 Cc. of water. Five drops of this solution and 5 drops of acetic acid are added to the sample of urine measuring 10 Cc. The mixture is then shaken with chloroform. If the latter remains colorless aceto-acetic acid is present in the urine.

66

Collection and Preparation of the Tonka Bean.-André, in his work, "A Naturalist in the Guineas," gives an interesting account of the Tonka bean, of which the following extract is contained in the Pharmaceutical Journal: The tree which furnishes the Tonka bean (Coumarouna orata Aubl.) grows in various parts of tropical America. The beans from Para are, however, less valuable than those from the regions supplied by the rivers Caura and Cuchivero. The region between these two rivers where are found rocky heights measuring from 3,000 to 4,000 feet, is the true home of this tree. The gathering of these beans is rather an exhausting occupation, as the trees often occur quite a distance apart. In Venezuela the tree is called "sarrapia," and the laborers engaged in gathering the beans are called " sarrapieros." These arrive at Caura at the beginning of February, often from a great distance-usually from Ciudad Bolivar. A variety of parrots cause a great deal of damage to these trees during the months of October and November, when the beans are still small and green. The fruit of sarrapia is like a small melon, and is eaten by the natives. The sarrapieros break the fruit between two stones and remove the single bean which it contains. The beans are then dried in the sun on large blocks of granite called " "laja." The crop is gathered in by the end of May or the beginning of June and the beans in their dried state are sent to Bolivar city or to Trinidad, where they are subjected to a process of crystallization. This is done by filling casks with the beans up to within a foot of the brim. Then rum is poured in, to the brim, and the cask is covered with canvas. After 24 hours the rum is drawn off and the fruit is dried in the free air. When thus removed from these casks the beans are black and swollen, but after they have dried their surface shows the presence of shining white crystals, so that when they are ready for packing they look as

if they had beeen powdered with sugar. When they are dry they look cracked and wrinkled. A tax of 25 centesimos is levied in Venezuela for the exportation of Tonka beans.

Cultivation of Cinchonas in the United States.-Albert Schneider, in an address read before the Lewis and Clark Pharmaceutical Congress, reviewed the subject of cinchona cultivation in various countries, and pointed out the possibilities for such a cultivation in the United States, especially on the Pacific Coast. The cultivation of cinchona in other countries than Peru has been pursued only within comparatively recent times. The first attempts were made by the Dutch who succeeded in cultivating the plant in Java in 1854. In 1860 the British Government made its first attempts to cultivate in India plants obtained by Markham in Bolivia, together with plants and seeds from the Dutch plantations in Java and New Granada. The first British plantation was established in the southwestern portion of the Madras Presidency, among the Nilgiri hills. The bark began to appear in the London market in 1867, and has been sold there ever since.

The question of cultivating cinchona in this country came up soon after it was evident that the Dutch and the English had so well succeeded in growing this valuable drug in their respective colonies. In 1879, at the suggestion of W. Weaver, at that time in Bogota, attempts were made to cultivate cinchonas in California. These experiments were conducted under the direction of the University of California, and the plants were obtained from the English plantations in India. These experiments showed that it was very difficult to cultivate cinchonas under ordinary conditions. Proper hothouses and proper conditions of drainage were lacking at the time, and most of the test plants perished, C. succirubra being apparently the most hardy species. The great enemy of the cinchonas seemed to be frost, which killed them rapidly even when it occurred in the slightest degree. There are regions in California, however, the climate of which is very similar to that of the Andes, and theoretically cinchona should grow in these regions. But it seems that very slight variations in temperature are sufficient to interfere with the growth of these plants, and it is possible, as Dr. Rusby unhesitatingly states, that cinchona cannot be cultivated anywhere within the limits of this country. Success, however, is not out of the question, in view of the encouragement already received in previous tests. Schneider suggests that large quantities of the more hardy species be planted in seeds obtained from Java, India, or Jamaica. These should be sown in mat-covered or glass-covered cold frames, filled with a compost of a turfy mixture of loam and peat, to which has been added a little sand and charcoal. The bottom temperature should be kept at about 60 degrees F. The plants will not germinate so readily in hot beds. The soil should be kept well moistened, but not wet. The seedlings should be kept under glass in beds of suitable size for two or three years, at a temperature of 50 to 60 degrees, with moist air. Santa Barbara County is probably the most suitable locality for these experiments.

A fair product is obtained by dissolving the hypophosphite in the mixed syrup, glycerin and lime water. With a portion of this make a mucilage of 2 dr. pulv. acaciæ and emulsify the oils little by little, thinning with the mixture as required. The emulsion separates slightly in time, but if more gum be used it is unmanageably thick.

In a mixture of liq. hydrarg. perchlor., liq. Donovan, and water, equal parts, red iodide of mercury is precipitated through interaction of mercuric iodide with arsenious iodide and hydriodic acid. A mixture containing bismuth salicylate, sodium iodide, syrup of codeine, tragacanth and water undergoes some change which Mr. Duncan could not definitely determine. The next query was about the following prescription:

In regard to the first of these prescriptions the querist said a precipitate is formed, but Mr. Duncan had been unable to get one, and suggested that the liq. bismuthi should be examined to see if it contained excess of alkali. If so, magnesium hy

drate might be precipitated. Salicylic acid is precipitated in the second prescription and the precipitation cannot be prevented. He then dealt with the bursting of a bottle containing the following mixture:

The bursting he believed to be due to the action of the nitrous acid in the spirit of nitre on the tannin of the infusion, and proved this by stating that an infusion detannated with isinglass gives no trouble.

To dissolve old rubber the following process is employed: The material is shredded finely and then heated, under pressure, for several hours, with a strong solution of caustic soda. All cloth, paint, glue, fillers, etc., in the rubber is disintegrated, but the rubber is not affected. The mass is then washed repeatedly with water, to remove all alkali, and the resultant pure rubber may then be formed into sheets.

Solubility of Phenols in Sodium Salicylate Solutions.— R. S. The solvent action of concentrated solutions of sodium salicylate on phenols and phenol derivatives is a matter of record. Carbolic acid solutions may be made as concentrated as 80 per cent. by first dissolving the acid in a concentrated solution of sodium salicylate, and a solution of this strength is not caustic. Creosote, menthol, thymol, etc., show similar solubility; the volatile oils are also freely soluble in a solution of sodium salicylate, but owing to their variable chemical composition not in all proportions.

Paper Bottles for Milk.-G. B., Italy, who makes inquiry regarding milk bottles made of paper, is advised that there is no such thing on the market for fresh milk in this country. A number of attempts have been made to manufacture such bottles and various methods have been devised, but up to the present time no reliable process has been provided. We have made inquiries in several directions and beyond ascertaining that a paper box or carton is made for dried milk powder we have not learned of any bottle made of paper for fluid milk. Perhaps some of our readers may know more of the subject.

Books for the Pharmacist.-E. M. y S., Mexico, asks us to name "the best book for making pharmaceutical preparations and the best book for compounding medical formulas."

Our correspondent's query is somewhat vague, but we suppose that it is a formulæ book and a work on dispensing which he is in search of. Of formulæ books the best are represented by the Standard Formulary, by Ebert and Hiss, published by G. P. Englehard & Co., Chicago, at $4, and Pharmaceutical Formulas, by MacEwan, published by The Chemist and Druggist, London, and sold in this country by McKesson & Robbins, New York, at $2.50. The same publishers put out a work on the Art of Dispensing, which will perhaps meet the second inquiry. It is supplied, postpaid, by McKesson & Robbins for $2. The National Formulary, published by the American Pharmaceutical Association, is an indispensable work for the pharmacist. The third edition is nearly ready and can be obtained, when published, through the secretary of the association, Charles Caspari, jr., Baltimore, Md. An American work on the subject of prescription compounding is The Art of Compounding, by Prof. Wilbur L. Scoville, which is published by P. Blakiston, Son & Co., at $2.50. A reference book, which should be in the possession of every pharmacist is The Extra Pharmacopoeia, by Martindale and Westcott, published by H. K. . Lewis, 136 Gower street, W. C., London, which is delivered, postpaid, for $2.68. Any of the books named may be obtained through the American Druggist Publishing Company.

Prendergast's Pills or Tablets.-Several correspondents have kindly volunteered information regarding the composition of these pills or tablets. The pills are used in the treatment of diarrhoea and contain the following ingredients:

One correspondent advises us that he has experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining the tablets, which are made by a firm in Jersey City, N. J.

Extract of Lemon.-G. M. asks us to publish a formula for extract of lemon which will yield a good, up-to-date product.

Parrish's formula has never been surpassed. It calls for a mixture of freshly grated lemon peel, lemon oil and alcohol. The peel should be grated carefully so that none of the white interior portion is scraped off and the lemon oil should be of

Mix the oil and peel with seven pints of deodorized alcohol, then add a mixture of water and alcohol, one pint, in such proportions that the mixture will be only slightly clouded; let it stand seven days and filter for use.

Extract of Vanilla.-G. M.-One of the most satisfactory formulas known to us is that communicated by Oscar Kalish, of New York, at one of the stated meetings of the New York College of Pharmacy. The first step in the process is to secure a prime quality of vanilla bean. The beans must be divided into small pieces of three-quarters to one inch in length, and longitudinally, by means of an herb cutter. The formula and directions for the preparation of the extract reads as follows: Vanilla beans, Mexican. Granulated sugar Deodorized alcohol Water

.....

.31⁄2 av. lb.

.7 av. lb.

.4 gals.

.3 gals.

Upon the cut beans contained in a porcelain jar is poured seven pints of boiling water. The jar is then covered and allowed to stand for 24 hours, the object of this maceration being to bring the bean as nearly as possible to its natural green state. After this maceration the supernatant liquor is poured off and the beans transferred to a machine which will cut or grind them up as finely as possible-a sausage cutter serves the purpose best, and, preferably, one in the form of a chaser consisting of four steel disks revolving about a block of wood. It is important that the beans should not be brought into contact with iron. The finely ground vanilla is transferred to a porcelain jar and seven pounds of granulated sugar is added to it, followed by the liquid with which it had been previously macerated and eight additional pints of water. The mixture is stirred frequently during 24 hours, after which one gallon of deodorized alcohol is added and the whole allowed to macerate for seven days, when another gallon of alcohol is added, maceration continued for a week and four pints more of alcohol added. Filtration is to be avoided. Up to the addition of the last four pints of alcohol the liquid has a turbid appearance, but the alcohol finally added precipitates the albumen, leaving a clear solution. The mixture now formed is allowed to macerate 30 more days and at the expiration of this time the whole is transferred to a Squibb's percolater, which is covered with a musiin diaphragm. After the liquid with which the vanilla has been standing has passed through, continue the percolation with a menstruum consisting of nine pints of water and 12 pints of alcohol. The percolate will be found an excellent extract of vanilla. There is no method to be followed which will yield a satisfactory producɩ in a few days, and the pharmacist must anticipate his wants at least sixty days in advance.

His Favorite Medium.

I have been one of your readers several years and am always interested in your editorial comments, as well as the other contents of the DRUGGIST. A word about advertising. After having been in business fourteen years and tried all kinds of advertising and spent hundreds of dollars in country signs, etc., I am thoroughly convinced that the newspaper is the medium to get at the people in a small city. I always watch for the AMERICAN DRUGGIST to get pointers for my ads. Wishing you a prosperous new year, I remain,

BATH, MAINE, January 13.

L. B. SWETT, Ph. G., Massachusetts College, 1890.

Business Building.

(Written for the American Druggist.)

TWO MONEY MAKERS.

BY C. P. C. TIMBERMAN.

A good hair tonic and a toilet cream are specialties which if properly advertised and pushed are money makers.

Most every druggist has his own make of these preparations, but if he does not then I would advise him to put them up. Any number of good formulas may be obtained through the AMERICAN DRUGGIST for such preparations. The best size of container for the hair tonic is a two and a half or three ounce bottle (toilet water shape), which may be retailed for twentyfive cents, this size of hair tonic not being on the market, to my knowledge. The toilet cream may be put up in the same size and shape of bottle to retail at from fifteen to twenty-five cents. Fifteen cents would be a suitable retail price for this article, since it can be made very cheaply.

The next step is to introduce them, and one method which I have used successfully is to have printed signs about 12 x 14, reading somewhat like the specimens shown herewith:

Display one each of these signs in about twenty-five barber shops, and if a small shop leave a bottle each of your hair tonic and toilet cream; if a large shop two bottles of each, or so that a bottle can be placed at about every other chair. Then ask the barbers to use them on customers and tell them about the preparations. Make an arrangement with the barbers whereby if they are the means of sending customers to you or sell it in the shop you will allow them 20 per cent. for their trouble. By getting them to talk about the preparations and recompensing them for their trouble the druggist is enabled to introduce his own preparations easily, and at the same time secure the trade of the barber.

MANUFACTURING PERFUMERS MEET.

Members a Unit for Reduction of Tax on Alcohol-To Boom American Perfumes.

By far the most important feature of the twelfth annual convention of the members of the Manufacturing Perfumers' Association of the United States, which was held in the Hotel Astor on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 3, 4 and 5, was the passing of a resolution whereby the leading perfume makers in this country agreed to inaugurate a general canıpaign for educating the American consumer in the superiority of the American perfumes over the foreign products. As an initial step in this direction, the members of the association decided to appropriate a sum of money not to exceed $300, to be used in disseminating the information concerning the excellence of American perfumes through the medium of newspapers and magazines, such information to be prepared in the form of news items. The members of the association also recommended that the Executive Board consider the advisability of establishing at the exposition to be held in Jamestown, Va., the first public exhibition of American perfumes, by means of which they expect to spread still further the merits of the American products, which enjoy the advantage of being exempt from the 66 per cent. tariff paid by foreign perfumers.

THE ALCOHOL TAX.

Many other subjects of general interest to the perfumery world and especially to American manufacturers were also discussed at the various sessions of the convention and resolutions, embodying the sentiments and proposed action of the members in relation to pending legislation, were likewise passed. Among these resolutions was one proposed by Henry Dalley, chairman of the Legislative Committee, recommending that the association again place itself on record as favoring all legislation looking toward the removal of the tax on alcohol used in the perfumery industry, and, in particular, as urging the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to exercise certain restrictions in regulating the capacity of the stills to be used by manufacturers of denatured alcohol, which in accordance with the terms of House of Representatives Bill 8453, to be passed by that body within a few days, is exempt from all duty. Though the denatured alcohol bill only indirectly affects the perfume trade, the association deemed it advisable to recommend to the Committee on Ways and Means that Commissioner Yerkes limit the minimum capacity of all denatured alcohol stills to 250 wine gallons, and also that the expense of the administration of this law be borne by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and not by the manufacturers. This resolution met with unanimous approval and was passed by the association members, who also passed another resolution declaring themselves in favor of the Lovering bill, now before the House of Representatives, which provides for a tax on alcohol in its pure state, amounting to only 70 cents per gallon. As pure alcohol is the only kind now used by perfumers as the foundation for their odors and extracts, the bill providing for some relief in the Internal Revenue tax on such spirits is naturally of primal importance to the American perfume makers.

ELABORATE PROGRAMME OF ENTERTAINMENT.

The business of the convention, however, did not occupy all the time, for several elaborate entertainments had been planned for the members by the entertainment committee composed of W. G. Ungerer, of this city, chairman; H. O. Brawner, of Baltimore; Florence. Fox, of Philadelphia; Monroe P. Lind, of Philadelphia, and John Blochi, of Chicago. This committee arranged for a theatre party on Tuesday evening, when all the members attending the convention, with their wives, sisters and daughters, went in a body to the Hippodrome. To the entertainment committee, moreover, the members owed the delightful banquet and vaudeville entertainment, which was held in the big ball room in the Hotel Astor on Thursday evening, as the concluding feature of the convention.

THE BUSINESS SESSIONS.

More than 40 active and associate members of the asso

ciation attended the opening session of the convention, which was held, like all the other sessions, in the small ball room at the Astor. The first gathering was called at 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, when a light luncheon was served. The business meeting began at 2 o'clock and lasted until 4 o'clock, when an adjournment was taken until 11 o'clock on Wednesday morning. This second session lasted until 1 o'clock, when adjournment was taken for luncheon. The third session began at 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day and the fourth and fifth sessions were held in the morning and afternoon of Thursday, from 11 to 1 and from 2 to 4 o'clock, respectively. President D. H. McConnell, Secretary Frank B. Marsh, and Treasurer Richard Hudnut were present at all the sessions.

Mr. McConnell opened the first session by reading his report, which contained no special recommendations, but endorsed the reports of all the committees. The president laid great stress in his report upon the necessity for concerted action by all the members of the association, praising what had already been accomplished and expressing the conviction that every one connected with the association would continue to further its interests in every way possible.

Secretary Marsh then reported that the membership of the association amounted to 97 active and associate members, representing the leading perfume manufacturers in all the principal cities in the country. Though there were 125 members last year, the secretary explained that, with the present 50 active and 47 associate members, the association was accomplishing as much as it could with a larger membership.

The report of Treasurer Hudnut was more than satisfac

tory, showing that the general receipts during the past year had steadily increased, so that the sum in the treasury afforded an ample guarantee of the prosperous financial condition of the organization. Reports from the Committee on Legislation, Entertainment, Membership, Freight and Transportation, Trade Interests, Fraternal Relations, Importations and Undervaluation of Foreign Goods were also read and approved, as was also the report of Theodore Ricksecker, chairman of the Executive Board. All the reports except that of the treasurer were referred to the Committee on Resolutions, which in turn made its reports on Wednesday morning and afternoon.

MADE HONORARY MEMBERS.

James E. Davis, of Detroit, chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, opened the business of the Wednesday morning session by proposing an amendment to the constitution of the association whereby the terms of service for the members of the Executive Board should be increased from one year to three years. This amendment was unanimously passed. Mr. Davis then proposed that Harry S. Woodward and Sturgis Coffin, two former active members of the association, be made honorary members, and, as there was no provision in the constitution for honorary members, Mr. Davis proposed the addition of a third class, to be known as honorary, and also that "any individual, who shall have been actively engaged in furthering and promoting the interests of the association, shall be eligible and may be elected to honorary membership." Mr. Davis also proposed another amendment relative to honorary membership, whereby there should be no dues or assessments for such members. The amendments were unanimously car