112 jaU.C. P. ALUMNI JOURNAL July/ 1918 



Permit me to say, lest I be misunderstood, that I do not agree with these sen- 

 tim.ents in their entirety, but only in small part. I quite understand and appre- 

 ciate that the training received in a properly conducted pharmacy or drug store, 

 is of invaluable aid to the student of pharmacy, and that it cannot be replaced by 

 the training or teaching of a modern pharmacy school. 1 believe that if we desire 

 to make true progress in elevating pharmacy, it will become more and more ap- 

 parent that such experience is needed. 



Just what rules our Board will formulate in connection with the junior phar- 

 macist license, I am unable to say. Some action will in all probability however be 

 taken on occasion of the June meeting of the Board. It remains to be seen of 

 course to just what extent the passage of the law creating this new grade will 

 remedy the conditions of which we complain. It is however certain that a con- 

 siderable number will be added to those who are by law privileged to remain in 

 charge of an establishment, during the temporary absence of the licensee. 



In closing permit me to express my sincere appreciation of the good work 

 done, and the many admirable things accomplished by your State Association, 

 more especially during recent years. All this works for the advancement of 

 pharmacy, and matters pharmaceutical, and I feel confident when the progress 

 pharmacy has made is more generally seen and acknowledged, that your work 

 will be duly appreciated. I would also say a word concerning the cordial and 

 fraternal relations which obtain between the Boards of Pharmacy of our respect- 

 ive States. We have found the Secretary and members of your Board most ready 

 to assist us in carrying on our work, and we have in turn endeavored to recipro- 

 cate whenever possible. Conservation of forces and conservation of energy is the 

 watch-word of our time, and the advancement of pharmacy will, I feel sure, be 

 furthered by the cultivation and continuance of the pleasant and friendly relations 

 existing between the pharmacists and their representatives of our States. 



VARIATIONS IN NUX VOMICA AND ITS PREPARATIONS* 



By Hugo H. Schaefer 



One of the more important changes in the U. S. P. IX as compared to the 

 former revision is that of the alkaloidal requirement for Nux Vomica and its 

 assay process. The former requirement called for 1.25% strychnine and in its 

 determination the well known assay process was used in which the total alkaloids 

 are extracted, the brucine destroyed by means of nitric acid and the remaining 

 alkaloid calculated as strychnine. In the U. S. P. IX the requirements are for 

 2.5% total alkaloids and the assay process is of course based on the simple extrac- 

 tion and weighing of all the alkaloids of Nux Vomica. 



It was found by the author that a greater percentage of samples of Nux Vom- 

 ica met the requirements of the new pharmacopoeia than that of the old. In other 

 words that 2.5% total alkaloids was a lower standard than 1.25% strychnine. In 

 order to definitely determine this question a number of samples of powdered Nux 

 Vomica were taken and assayed according to the U. S. P. IX for total alkaloids. 



*Read at the 48th Annual Session of The N. J. P. A. 



