32 
An unsigned article enumerates and discusses the assay methods 
that have been published during the past year. — Pharm. Weekbl., 
1905, v. 42, pp. 67-70 & 174-177. 
Puckner, IV. A., reviews the literature relating to the estimation 
of alkaloids. — Pharm. Review, Milwaukee, 1905, v. 23, pp. 175 and 
206, ff. 
Fromme, G., discusses ammonia as a disturbing factor in the titri- 
metric estimation of alkaloids and points out that ether will dissolve 
considerable quantities of ammonia and of ammonia derivatives and 
that the ethereal extract of an alkaline extractive is not suited for 
direct titrimetric estimation of alkaloids. — Geschafts-Bericht v. 
Caeser & Loretz, i. Halle, a. S., 1905, p. 14, ff. 
The same author also discusses the use of aliquot parts, in place 
of the total extractive of the drug, in reply to objections that have 
been made by Puckner, Panchaud, and others. — Ibid., p. 28, ff. 
Dott, D. B., offers some criticisms of the official monographs on 
certain opium alkaloids, particularly the solubility. — Abstr. Year 
Book Pharm., Lond., 1905, p. 120 (from Pharm. J. Bond.). 
9. PURITY AND STRENGTH OF PHARMACOPCEIAL ARTICLES. 
The editor commends the u purity rubric ” as being opportune. — 
Canad. Pharm. J.. Toronto, 1905, v. 39, p. 20. 
Lyons, A. B., discusses the “ purity rubric,” points out the possi- 
bility of differences in results obtained by various methods of analy- 
sis, and asserts that “ no statement of a purity requirement should 
be made without a specification of the method to be used in making 
the necessary determinations.” — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1905, v. 53, 
p. 258. 
Hinrichs, Carl G., characterizes the “ purity rubric ” as a u very 
peculiar feature ” of the new pharmacopoeia in that it demands a 
strength which chemicals shall attain without prescribing a definite 
method of verification. — Am. J. Pharm., Phila., 1905, v. 77, p. 511. 
TVilbert, M. I., discusses the general subject of purity and strength 
and questions the propriety of “ more accurately defining the limit 
of purity permissible in official chemical substances.” — Am. J. Pharm., 
Phila., 1905, v. 77, p. 361. 
In a discussion of the general subject of quality vs. price, at the 
meeting of the Illinois Pharmaceutical Association a number of 
points of a practical nature are recorded. — Proc. 111. Pharm. Ass., 
1905, pp. 96-112. 
Nixon, C. F., believes that in common with some of the former 
revisions the standards of the pharmacopoeia are so high that they 
are unattainable. — Apothecary, Boston, October, 1905, v. 17, p. 774. 
