8 
Special attention is directed to the following- points: 
1. Terminology . — The general plan regarding terminology is ex- 
pressed in the following extract from the General Principles to be' 
Followed in Revising the Pharmacopoeia, adopted by the Pharmaco- 
poeia! Convention of 1900: 
u * * * In the case of newly admitted articles it is recommended 
that such titles be chosen as are in harmony with general usage and 
convenient for prescribing; but in the case of chemicals of a definite 
composition a scientific name should be given, at least as a synonjunA 
In accordance with this general principle a large number of syn- 
thetic remedies have been admitted into the Pharmacopoeia, not under 
their trade or commercial names by which many are well known to the 
profession, but, in most cases, under names approximating, as closely 
as practicable, their true chemical names. Thus “ Phenacetin ” is 
admitted as Acetphenetidinum , a name which shows at once that this 
substance belongs to the great group of phenetidin compounds. 
“Aristol** is admitted as Thymolis Iodidum , a name showing that 
this substance is an iodine compound of thymol. While a few of these 
new names may at first lead to some confusion, it is certain that they 
will ultimately greatly simplify not only the terminology, but also our 
understanding of the nature and use of such substances. For exam- 
ple, at present the same chemical compound is sometimes put on the 
market under a variety of commercial names. Thus, hexamethylene 
tetramine is sold under at least seven different names, most of which 
refer in a vague way to some supposed therapeutic value of the drug, 
and not to its chemical nature. The Pharmacopoeia admits this sub- 
stance under the name Hexarnethylenamina and fixes a standard of 
purity. By demanding the U. S. Pharmacopoeia article the physician 
is not only assured a product of uniform high quality, but he aids in 
reducing the multiplicity of names which is so often a source of confu- 
sion. Because of the different names under which a given drug is sold, 
it is no wonder that physicians who have failed to secure the results 
expected from a certain drug have prescribed it again under a different 
name, but with the impression that they were trying something new. 
The use of the chemical names, as far as practicable, is also a great aid 
in classifying the compounds which are being put upon the market in 
such ever increasing numbers. If the physician understands the chem- 
ical nature of a comparatively few well-known substances he will more 
readily see the relations of the new ones to these, and will appreciate 
how slight many of the modifications are. In fact, notwithstanding 
the number of the latter, drugs of distinctly new therapeutic properties 
are rare. 
Aside from the evident desirability of having names at least sug- 
gesting the chemical nature of the drug, there is another reason for 
giving preference to the Pharmacopceial names. A substance is often 
