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156
parts of the country difficulty was evidently
experienced in disposing of old stocks, and articles
manufactured according to the requirements of the
1914 Pharmacopoeia have been sold till well on in
the year.
One sample of flowers of sulphur contained an
excess (0.45 per cent.) of free sulphuric acid,
whereas the limit allowed by the Pharmacopoeia
is 0.25 per cent., but the formal sample proved
to be genuine. One sample of magnesium oxide
(No. 391) reported against lost an excessive proportion
of its weight on heating (8.9 per cent.),
but other samples were satisfactory. It should
not be difficult for chemists to supply magnesium
oxide complying with the requirements of the
present Pharmacopoeia, as they are advised to
keep it in well-closed containers, and the permitted
loss on heating is 5.0 per cent., whereas
the 1914 Pharmacopoeia contained no instructions
as to storage and only allowed a loss of 1.0 per
cent. on heating.