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Organic analytical reagents, by Frank J. Welcher. Vol. IV. D. Van Nostrand Company, New York, 1948. xiii + 624 pp. 14.5 × 23 cm. Price, $8; series price, $7
172
JOURNAL OF THE
AMERICANPHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION
SUMMARY
A study of several quantitative microscopic methods for analyzing commercial starches in mixtures and for the similar analysis of starch granules in certain vegetable drug powders has been made. A saturated solution of zinc sulfate U. S. P. was found to be superior to agents previously used as starch-suspending agents. This suspending medium, when used with a Levy blood counting slide, gave sufficiently even starch granule dispersion to provide for more consistent microscopic starch counting than previously reported. The above method was found best applicable to the analysis of the starches from potato tubers, grains of wheat, rice, and corn, and from the vegetahle drugs belladonna, glycyrrhiza, aconite, and orris roots.
All counts and percentages ascertained were compared. with results obtained from an accepted quantitative chemical analysis procedure on the same sample. Comparisons are shown in Tables I1 and V and were considered to be favorable. The advantages and limitations of the procedure have been described. REFERENCES (1) Meyer A. “Die Grundlagen und die Methoden fur die Mikroscoiiscie Untersuchung von Pflanzen Pulvern,” 1901. D 128 (Z)‘Me$er, A,, Arch. Pharm., 246, 523(1908). (3) Hartwich, C . , and Wichmann, A,, i b i d , 250, 452
,-_--,.
11919)
(4) Hart, F.. THI:#JOWRNAL. 8, 1032(1919). (5) Allen, A. H., Commercial Organic Analysis,” ed. 5, Blakiston Co., Philadelphia, 1923, Vol. 1 , p: 525. (6) Chamot M. “Elementary Chemical Microscopy,” John Wiley & Son fnc. New York 1914 pp. 207-12. (7) Wallis T E. A h y s l , 41, $57-7411916). ( 8 ) ,zkhneiher, A,: “Microanalysis of Powdered Vegetable Drugs, Blakiston Co., Philadelphia, 1921 p. 147. (9) Mendelsohn, S . , Chemist-Analyst, 54, No. 1, (Jan.. 1935). (10) “Official and Tentative Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists,” ed. 6, Washington, D. C., 1945, pp. 411, 570, 571, 572, 830.
Book Reviews Experiences with Folk Acid, by TOMD. SPIES.The Yearbook Publishers, Inc., Chicago, 1947. 110 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price, $3.75. That folic acid ‘can control macrocytic anemia is now an established fact. Folic acid’s place in nutrition and clinical science has changed so rapidly that a confusing literature is the result. Dr. Spies lists 80 references in this brief account. Experiences with Folic Acid is an account of the clinical evaluation of folic acid largely by Dr. Spies and his staff. In addition to the information it contains, it could well serve as a guide to those interested in clinical research. Medical literature is so full of uncontrolled and poorly controlled clinical studies, that a scientific approach is indeed refreshing. Since folic acid is so “new,” obviously this account cannot be definitive, but it will serve as a helpful guide until research can crystallize more clearly.
stuffs, hydroxyanthraquinone and miscellaneous dyes, and dyes used in the detection of nitrites. An index of names and synonyms of organic reagents and an index of the uses of organic reagents complete the volume. A more helpful treatise on analytical chemistry than these four volumes has not appeared in years.
Pharmaceutical Preparations. By GEORGEE. CROSSEN and KARLJ. GOLDNER.The Lea and Febiger Co., ‘Philadelphia, 1948. 250 pp. 15.2 x 24 cm. Price $4. The second edition of this text is a concise basic volume for students of pharmacy who have had preliminary training in chemistry and fundamental laboratory techniques and who are ready t o consider official pharmaceutical preparations. It is a helpful supplementary outline of the official preparations which should be given in the course of galenical Organic Analytical Reagents, by FRANK J. WELCHER. pharmacy in the colleges of pharmacy. Vol. IV. D. Van Nostrand Company, New York, The authors have brought this edition into com1948. xiii 624 pp. 14.5 x 23 cm. Price, $8; plete accord with the latest editions of the U. S. P. series price, $7. and the N. F. ‘ There are listed both old and new Volume IV of Organic Analytical Reagents follows synonyms of the preparations, with added explanathe same general pattern of previous volumes and tions for special steps which should be followed in shows the same meticulous care in its preparation. the manufacture of some ofiicial preparations. [For review of Volumes I and 111 see THISJOURNAL, Each of the various classes of preparations is 37,44(1948).] The compounds covered in this vol- discussed separately in order to provide the best ume are acidic nitro compounds, the arsonic acids, form of continuity. Valuable background material dithiocarbonates, xanthates, miscellaneous sulfur is furnished in the brief summaries of the Harrison compounds, sulfonic and sulfinic acids, selenic acids, Narcotic Act and the section of the Federal Food, alkaloids, diazonium compounds, carbohydrates, Drug, and Cosmetic .4ct pertaining t o “dangerous miscellaneous natural substances, lake-forming dye- drugs” which is of interest to the pharmacist.
+
JOURNAL OF THE
AMERICANPHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION
SUMMARY
A study of several quantitative microscopic methods for analyzing commercial starches in mixtures and for the similar analysis of starch granules in certain vegetable drug powders has been made. A saturated solution of zinc sulfate U. S. P. was found to be superior to agents previously used as starch-suspending agents. This suspending medium, when used with a Levy blood counting slide, gave sufficiently even starch granule dispersion to provide for more consistent microscopic starch counting than previously reported. The above method was found best applicable to the analysis of the starches from potato tubers, grains of wheat, rice, and corn, and from the vegetahle drugs belladonna, glycyrrhiza, aconite, and orris roots.
All counts and percentages ascertained were compared. with results obtained from an accepted quantitative chemical analysis procedure on the same sample. Comparisons are shown in Tables I1 and V and were considered to be favorable. The advantages and limitations of the procedure have been described. REFERENCES (1) Meyer A. “Die Grundlagen und die Methoden fur die Mikroscoiiscie Untersuchung von Pflanzen Pulvern,” 1901. D 128 (Z)‘Me$er, A,, Arch. Pharm., 246, 523(1908). (3) Hartwich, C . , and Wichmann, A,, i b i d , 250, 452
,-_--,.
11919)
(4) Hart, F.. THI:#JOWRNAL. 8, 1032(1919). (5) Allen, A. H., Commercial Organic Analysis,” ed. 5, Blakiston Co., Philadelphia, 1923, Vol. 1 , p: 525. (6) Chamot M. “Elementary Chemical Microscopy,” John Wiley & Son fnc. New York 1914 pp. 207-12. (7) Wallis T E. A h y s l , 41, $57-7411916). ( 8 ) ,zkhneiher, A,: “Microanalysis of Powdered Vegetable Drugs, Blakiston Co., Philadelphia, 1921 p. 147. (9) Mendelsohn, S . , Chemist-Analyst, 54, No. 1, (Jan.. 1935). (10) “Official and Tentative Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists,” ed. 6, Washington, D. C., 1945, pp. 411, 570, 571, 572, 830.
Book Reviews Experiences with Folk Acid, by TOMD. SPIES.The Yearbook Publishers, Inc., Chicago, 1947. 110 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price, $3.75. That folic acid ‘can control macrocytic anemia is now an established fact. Folic acid’s place in nutrition and clinical science has changed so rapidly that a confusing literature is the result. Dr. Spies lists 80 references in this brief account. Experiences with Folic Acid is an account of the clinical evaluation of folic acid largely by Dr. Spies and his staff. In addition to the information it contains, it could well serve as a guide to those interested in clinical research. Medical literature is so full of uncontrolled and poorly controlled clinical studies, that a scientific approach is indeed refreshing. Since folic acid is so “new,” obviously this account cannot be definitive, but it will serve as a helpful guide until research can crystallize more clearly.
stuffs, hydroxyanthraquinone and miscellaneous dyes, and dyes used in the detection of nitrites. An index of names and synonyms of organic reagents and an index of the uses of organic reagents complete the volume. A more helpful treatise on analytical chemistry than these four volumes has not appeared in years.
Pharmaceutical Preparations. By GEORGEE. CROSSEN and KARLJ. GOLDNER.The Lea and Febiger Co., ‘Philadelphia, 1948. 250 pp. 15.2 x 24 cm. Price $4. The second edition of this text is a concise basic volume for students of pharmacy who have had preliminary training in chemistry and fundamental laboratory techniques and who are ready t o consider official pharmaceutical preparations. It is a helpful supplementary outline of the official preparations which should be given in the course of galenical Organic Analytical Reagents, by FRANK J. WELCHER. pharmacy in the colleges of pharmacy. Vol. IV. D. Van Nostrand Company, New York, The authors have brought this edition into com1948. xiii 624 pp. 14.5 x 23 cm. Price, $8; plete accord with the latest editions of the U. S. P. series price, $7. and the N. F. ‘ There are listed both old and new Volume IV of Organic Analytical Reagents follows synonyms of the preparations, with added explanathe same general pattern of previous volumes and tions for special steps which should be followed in shows the same meticulous care in its preparation. the manufacture of some ofiicial preparations. [For review of Volumes I and 111 see THISJOURNAL, Each of the various classes of preparations is 37,44(1948).] The compounds covered in this vol- discussed separately in order to provide the best ume are acidic nitro compounds, the arsonic acids, form of continuity. Valuable background material dithiocarbonates, xanthates, miscellaneous sulfur is furnished in the brief summaries of the Harrison compounds, sulfonic and sulfinic acids, selenic acids, Narcotic Act and the section of the Federal Food, alkaloids, diazonium compounds, carbohydrates, Drug, and Cosmetic .4ct pertaining t o “dangerous miscellaneous natural substances, lake-forming dye- drugs” which is of interest to the pharmacist.
+