24 
that the assay processes, for instance, are entirely proper and ade- 
quate in every respect, but he discloses and confesses the weakness 
of his argument when he takes the ground that the Government should 
allow greater variations in the alkaloiclal standards. * * * If it 
is just and necessary for the Government to widen the latitude of 
the alkaloiclal standards, why should not the pharmacopoeia widen 
them, since it is the pharmacopceial standards by which the Govern- 
ment is guided? Chairman Remington announces that the pharma- 
copoeia is to be corrected wherever necessary and a new issue printed 
soon after January 1. — Bull. Pharm., Detroit, 1906, v. 20, p. 488. 
Remington, J. P., announces to the editors: 
The Pure Food and Drugs Law, which goes into effect on January 1, 1907, and 
which provides that the United States Pharmacopoeia, official at the time of the 
investigation, is the standard, has created considerable activity and in many 
cases apprehension with regard to some of the tests contained in the pharma- 
copoeia. I would ask you to give publicity in your columns to the following 
statement : “ The work of revision was placed in the hands of subcommittees, 
which were appointed by the late Dr. Charles Rice, to deal with the different 
parts of the work. The work of the subcommittees was finally passed upon 
by the whole Committee of Revision. The latter is a continuous body, the 
members remaining in office until their successors are appointed in 1910, and 
its duties did not cease, as many suppose, with the publication of the last 
revision of the pharmacopoeia. Since the publication of the pharmacopoeia the 
chairman of the committee has received from various manufacturers and 
others suggestions for corrections here and there in the text. Most of these 
have been investigated or are now in process of investigation by the subcom- 
mittee in charge of that part of the work. It is the intention to carefully con- 
sider every suggested correction, to alter such part of the plates of the phar- 
macopoeia if found necessary, and to issue after January 1, 1907, the pharma- 
copoeia so amended.” — Ibid., v. 20, p. 516. 
The committee of the X. TT. D. A. issued the following invita- 
tion : 
Tour Committee on Standards and Tests of the Lhiited States Pharma- 
copoeia and National Formulary invites you to forward as promptly as possible 
information in regard to such tests or standards, including properties and solu- 
bilities, as in your opinion need correction. Criticisms of tests should be ac- 
companied by the following data: (1) Fault found with test (specially state 
solubilities of articles tested) ; (2) manner in which test was applied; (3) sug- 
gestions as to corrections. Criticisms of standards should give reasons in detail 
why a change would be desirable, stating, when possible, the comparative cost 
of article of the present and proposed standards, bearing in mind that both 
U. S. P. and X. F. aim to secure a high medical efficiency at a reasonable cost. 
In view of the fact that the Committee on Revision of the U. S. P. is at present 
investigating suggestions for corrections, it is desirable that any criticisms you 
may have to offer should be sent to your committee at the earliest possible 
date. — Drug Topics, X. Y., 1906, v. 21, p. 337. 
An editorial discusses the proposed revision of the U. S. P. VIII, 
at the instance of manufacturing pharmacists and suggests that it 
might be advisable to consider the wishes of the retail druggists in 
this same connection.- — D.-A. Apotli.-Ztg., X. Y., 1906-7. v. 27, p. 147. 
