PURITY OF OUR COMMERCIAL SANTONIN.
BY JOSEPH I. BECK,

Springfield, O.

QUERY NO. 10.-Purity of our Commercial Santonin?

Santonin, as it has been found in the market six or seven years ago, was very impure and therefore a very unsatisfactory article. Admixtures of different alkaloids were found-gums in a finely divided state -but, above all, Boric Acid seemed to be the chief adulterant.

When these facts became pretty well known by the dispensers they began to look out for a pure article. Soon these admixtures disappeared from the market, and a tolerably pure Santonin could be had. No adulterations were noticed for some time after. Of late it was said that several samples examined looked rather suspicious. Thus the matter was placed upon the list.

In answering this question, fifty-seven samples from different places of the State were obtained. The samples were of the manufacture of the following houses:

C. Pfizer & Co.,

E. Merck,

Rosengarten & Sons,
Powers & Weightman,

Billings, Clapp & Co.,

McKesson & Robbins,

Mallinkradt's Chemical Works.

The name of the manufacturer of a number of samples could not be obtained. Several tests were made, including U. S. P. tests, with such other tests as would be most valuable.

First, we tested for Salicin by placing some Santonin on a small, white dish, pouring a little Conc. H2SO4 over it. If Salicin be present, a color reaction takes place: red. We observed slight changes in the samples Nos. 5, 31, 34, 35, 51 and 54 after two minutes.

Second, Santonin was agitated with a dil. acid, filtered, and the filtrate treated with Potass. Mercuric Iodide; if no ppte. is obtained the samples do not contain Cinchonine, nor Salicin, nor other alkaloids. After adding the dil. acid the solutions were set aside for twenty-four hours, filtered, small quantity of the Pot. Merc. Iod. Sol. added, set away again over night, and in the morning we found that only No. 8 showed a small yellow precipitate.

Thirdly, we applied the flame test for Boric Acid-Santonin burns with a pale yellow flame, Boric Acid with a green flame. An alcoholic solution was prepared, a platinum wire dipped into it and ignited. We observed that none of the samples contained Boric Acid, according to this reaction.

The fourth test rested upon: no residuum is left after burning pure Santonin. A small amount of the samples in question were placed in a crucible lid and ignited over a Bunsen burner; the result observed was, Nos. 4, 8, 21 and 24 left a small and No. 50 left a large amount of ashes.

Next, we tested for Boric Acid and Cinchonine by making solution in Chloroform. Santonin is readily soluble in Chloroform, whereas Boric Acid and Cinchonine are insoluble. No. 50 left a large amount undissolved; all the other samples were entirely soluble.

Lastly, we ascertained the solubility of the samples in question in U. S. P. Alcohol at 60° F.-15.5°C. The Alcohol employed was brought to the U. S. P. Sp. Gr. and tested for its purity. About 15 grs. of each sample were placed in an ounce vial, about.6 fld. drachms of the Alcohol added and securely corked. These vials were suspended by their necks, by the aid of a thin board through which a sufficient number of holes were drilled, and the whole left floating in a large pan of water, which was kept near the temperature of 60° F. for two days, the raft being shaken at intervals. The third day the temperature of the water was brought to 60° F. and held there for the entire day; then the vials were taken out and the clear solution poured off into 3 dr. vials, which were well stoppered with paraffined corks. These vials were weighed, the contents poured into a tarred watch glass, the Alcohol evaporated completely, weighed again, obtaining the weight of the Santonin which was in solution. This weight, divided into that of the solution, gave the per cent. of its solubility;

one hundred, divided by this result, minus one, gave the solubility of one part of Santonin in ten parts of U. S. P. Alcohol at the temperature of 60° F.

We found of all fifty-seven samples the lowest to be one part in 14.69, the highest to be one part in 36.94, and the average to be one part in 24.62. The table below will show the solubility points of all the samples (except No. 18, which met with an accident, and, as no more of the sample was on hand, had to be dropped,) also all the other tests made, the places where purchased, and the appearance of the samples.

We then find that our supply is quite pure and free from foreign substances, there being only two among fifty-seven that might be set aside as unfit for dispensing. The solubilities, it will be observed, are given of the samples as they were obtained; however, I expect to examine and report at the next annual meeting on the solubility of the same all in very finely pulverized state, thus being under exactly the same conditions.

66

66

29.

pwd.
cryst.

27. Springfield. Colorless, shining cryst. No change. No change.

66

42.

Lemon-yel.

66

Colorless bright shining

cryst. powder.

66

Colorless cryst. powder.
Yellowish

་་

23.86

46. Cincinnati. Colorless, shg.cryst.pwd.

24 97

66

Colorless, shining pwd.

No change.

19 44

Slight reddish.