98 abstracts: pharmacology 



PHARMACOLOGY. — Digitalis standardization and the variability of 

 crude and of medicinal preparations. Worth Hale, Hygienic 

 Laboratory, U. S. Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service. 

 Bulletin of the Hygienic Laboratory, No. 74. 1911. 



Digitalis is one of the most important drugs in the Pharmacopoeia, 

 but, unfortunately, it is of very variable activity; this bulletin discusses, 

 in detail, some of the causes of this variability. The influence of the age 

 of the leaves (whether of the first or second year growth), the methods 

 of drying and preserving, and the effect of cultivation, are discussed; 

 also the variations in the strength of official preparations, the relative 

 strength of fluid ext acts and tinctures, and best methods of insuring 

 preparations of uniform activity. A number of special preparations 

 such as triturates, tablets, and certain proprietary preparations were 

 also examined. W. H. 



PHARMACOLOGY. — Digest of comments on the Pharmacopoeia of the 

 United States of America (eighth decennial revision) and the National 

 Formulary (third edition) for the calendar year ending December SI, 

 1908. Murray Galt Motter and Martin I. Wilbert, Hygienic 

 Laboratory, U. S. Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service. 

 Bulletin of the Hygienic Laboratory, No. 75, 1911. 



The present bulletin is the fourth of the series of "Digest of Com- 

 ments" on the Pharmacopoeia of the United States and the National 

 Formulary, the two books recognized by the Food and Drugs Act of 

 June 30, 1906, as the standard with reference to the identity, purity and 

 strength of the medicaments therein described. 



All of the available publications, containing matter of interest to the 

 revisers of the Pharmacopoeia and the National Formulary, have been 

 reviewed and practical suggestions and references, bearing on the 

 improvement of the two books as standards under the law, are presented 

 in as concise a form as possible. 



Apart from their use by the members of the several Committees of 

 Revision these bulletins are of value as a resume of current literature 

 on the scope and content of the Pharmacopoeia and the National For- 

 mulary, and on the nature, origin and uses of the various substances 

 used in the treatment of disease. 



Considerable space is given to the discussion of the possible develop- 

 ment of international standards for potent medicaments, and the gradual 

 compliance of foreign Pharmacopoeias with the provisions of the treaty 

 signed at Brussels in 1906 is noted. M. G. M. 



