almost entirely of stems; 10 per cent of Koellia mutica was found in a sample of pennyroyal leaves.

IMPORT TRADE.

The following findings may be cited to show some of the striking examples of adulterations detected in imported crude drugs during the past year:

Inula britannica for arnica flowers (Arnica montana), Solanum nigrum for belladonna (Atropa belladonna), Xanthium strumarium for stramonium (Datura stramonium), Lippia berlandieri and Origanum vulgare for marjoram (Marjoram hortensis), Heteropteris pauciflora, Ipecacuanha fibrosa and Ionidium species for ipecac (Cephaelis ipecacuanha), Ballota hirsuta for horehound (Marubium vulgare), Foeniculum piperitum for fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Rheum rhaponticum for rhubarb (Rheum officinale), etc. Up to 20 per cent of Tephrosia apollinea, containing a poisonous substance, were found in Tinnevelly senna (Cassia angustifolia). A fungus growth, resembling closely the sclerotium known as "ergot", has been found in caraway (Carum carvi) and cumin (Cyminum cuminum).

On the basis of certain studies the importation of some supplies obtained from new geographical or new botanical sources was encouraged; for instance, the importation of chamomile flowers and valerian root from Japan, as well as that of Hyoscyamus muticus for the manufacture of the alkaloid hyoscyamin.

PART IV.

Attention is called to the value of weights of unit volumes in the analysis of crude drugs and spices. While the weight of a certain volume is extensively used in grain standardization and, to some degree, by the trade in the judgment of pepper, recent findings in regard to areca nuts, nutmegs, fennel, etc., suggest that the weight of say 500 to 1000 cc. of crude drugs can often be used for an immediate judgment of authenticity or of inferiority due to worm infection, moldiness, immaturity, presence of foreign matter, etc.

This method, which obviously can be used only for drugs of rather uniform sizes, consists in filling a graduated cylinder up to the mark with the material of questionable quality, determining its weight, and repeating the same procedure with a sample of the drug of good quality. The sizes of the cylinders used vary from 100 to 1000 cc., depending on the size of the material. The few data given below indicate the application of this method:

* Determined with Boerner weight per bushel tester, described in U. S. Dept. Agr. Bull. 472: (1916).

RECOMMENDATIONS.

It is recommended

(1) That the methods for the hydrolysis of linamarin and the subsequent determination of hydrocyanic acid be adopted as tentative methods.

(2) That the method for the determination of volatile oil in mustard seed and substitutes, especially with regard to the nature of the influence which alcohol exerts if added before maceration, receive further study.

(3) That new sources of supplies of proper substitutes for drugs not now obtainable be further investigated.

(4) That further work be done to determine the value of a more extended use of weights of unit volumes in the analysis of crude drugs and spices.

REPORT ON ALKALOIDS.

By H. C. FULLER (Institute of Industrial Research, Washington, D. C.), Associate Referee.

The referee has done some further work on the method for the determination of atropin in tablets, and recommends that the directions for drying the alkaloidal residue be changed so that they will read as follows: "Dry in vacuo to a constant weight, and weigh as atropin."

Quite a study has been made of methods for the quantitative separation and estimation of quinin and strychnin, with special reference to determining a method which will be accurate for the analysis of the class of mixtures which are ordinarily made in practice. In most of these mixtures, the quantity of quinin is greatly in excess of that of strychnin. Consequently, the problem becomes one of determining a minute quantity of strychnin in the presence of a large amount of quinin.

A number of methods have been considered, and have been tried out by the referee, but it is apparent that they must receive further study before it is safe to send them out to the collaborators.

No collaborative work was undertaken because of the above conditions.

It is recommended

RECOMMENDATIONS.

(1) That the method for the determination of atropin in tablets, with the change mentioned above, be made provisional.

(2) That further work be done on the methods for separating quinin and strychnin, and that a method be submitted to the collaborators, which has a reasonable certainty of yielding concordant results.

(3) That the members of the association submit to the Associate Referee on Alkaloids suggestions for the study of important matters which may have developed in their practice.

No report on synthetic products was made by the associate referee.

No report on balsams and gum resins was made by the associate referee.

No report on enzyms was made by the associate referee.

The meeting adjourned at 5.20 p. m. for the day.