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chona, gentiana, etc., or very small amounts of one or more of the cinchona alkaloids. 

 Mixtures of quinin and whisky are cases in hand. One of the products examined was 

 found to contain not more than one-fortieth of a grain of total alkaloidal matter to an 

 ounce of the product, and even then the alkaloidal matter consisted only in part of 

 quinin. Without informing a prospective consumer or partaker, he, as a rule, would 

 not detect any abnormal odor or taste, excepting the one imparted by the so-called 

 whisky itself. One of the arguments frequently used to justify the existence of 

 products of this character is that the National Formulary, a standard quoted by the 

 food and drugs act, recognizes preparations of a similar type. The preparation 

 referred to most frequently is beef, wine, and iron. The point raised is an exceedingly 

 important one and requires adjustment. If it is permissible to add simply enough of 

 an agent to merely suggest a certain physiological action, be it ever so remote, pri- 

 marily for the purpose of using the name of a substance possessing recognized medici- 

 nal properties, in conjunction with the trade name of a commodity, one helpful feature 

 of the law will be largely negatived and an increased number of so-called medicinal 

 products of the most absurd character can be placed upon the market. 



As before stated, there are many drugs for which we have no satisfactory chemical 

 methods for determining whether or not given samples are active or inert. In some 

 few cases it has been possible to employ animal experimentation. The drugs amen- 

 able to this form of study are digitalis, cannabis indica, strophanthus, etc. The 

 methods at present available appear to give fairly satisfactory results in the hands 

 of experienced operators, but there is much to be done before it can be definitely 

 stated whether or not a given consignment possesses sufficient medicinal properties. 

 One specific case in this connection should be noted, namely, digitalis leaves. This 

 product is of such great importance to the medical practitioner for the treatment of 

 certain heart affections that nothing relative to this drug and its preparation should 

 be left to chance. No less an authority than Doctor Dixon, of England, says: "For 

 my part I unhesitatingly express the belief that many hundreds of patients die 

 annually from digitalis and allies not possessing the virtues which are required of 

 them." 



At the meeting of the association last year the referee urged the appointment of a 

 number of associate referees for the purpose of studying certain features which need 

 careful investigation; for example, it is absolutely necessary to have an intimate 

 acquaintance with the macroscopical and microscopical features of crude plant 

 products. Satisfactory methods are also wanting for analyzing the many mixtures 

 containing modern synthetic chemicals, used for the treatment of headache and numer- 

 ous other affections. We are in possession of fairly reliable methods for determining 

 and estimating morphin in certain combinations or if present in considerable amounts, 

 but it is quite another matter to detect and estimate this agent when present in very 

 minute quantities in mixtures containing various solvents, and much study will 

 be required before this single item is placed upon a footing which will be absolutely 

 reliable. During the past year some work has been attempted along this line with 

 cocain. It may at first appear to be a very simple matter to detect the presence and 

 estimate the amount of cocain in mixtures, but when it is remembered that there are 

 quite a number of products which respond to one or more of the tests laid down for 

 detecting cocain the difficulties can readily be appreciated. Careful, thoroughgoing 

 investigations on all these points are greatly needed, and until more work is done 

 it will be difficult to satisfactorily enforce some features of the federal and state laws 

 dealing with these products. 



State officials are making frequent requests for information as to methods of analysis 

 and standards for certain products. The referee has been actively engaged on both 

 of these lines of work and has now in preparation standards for certain products for 

 which no standards of a satisfactory character exist, and in cases where the existing 

 standard is somewhat deficient it is the intention to add certain features which will 



