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work and thus avoid annoyance. — Schweiz. Wchnschr. f. Chem. u. 
Pharm., 1906, v. 44, p. 419. 
Francis, John M., points out that so long as the pharmacopoeia 
only possessed an academic interest it was perhaps not so important 
for us to give it attention; but since the recently enacted food and 
drug law is based upon the specifications of the U. S. P. and N. F., 
the assay methods have become a matter of very great interest and im- 
portance to all pharmacists. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1906, v. 54, 
p. 452. 
Gordin, H. M., can see no good reason for the use of different 
methods for different drugs. While it is true that not every method 
is suitable for every drug, it would nevertheless seem to be advisable 
to adhere to one and the same method wherever it gives as good re- 
sults in one case as another. — Am. J. Pharm., Pliila., 1906, v. 78, p. 453. 
Searby, W. M., doubts not but that many persons will question 
whether the assay processes are “ reasonably simple,” as prescribed 
by the Pharmacopceial Convention. It is to be borne in mind that 
this assay work requires some skill and care, and only persons rea- 
sonably skilled will be able to make reliable assays _bv any processes 
that may be given them. — Ibid., v. 78, p. 210. 
Moerk, Frank X., presents a comprehensive study of the assay 
processes of the U. S. P. VIII, and a tabular arrangement of some 
of the details of the assay processes. — Proc. Pennsylvania Pharm. 
Ass., 1906, pp. 157-160. 
Gordin, H. M., presents a critical study of the assay methods 
adopted in the U. S. P. VIII, and points out that while the greater 
number of these methods are very good there are a few that either 
do not work at all or are so complicated that they will hardly ever 
give concordant results in the hands of different chemists. — Proc. 
Am. Pharm. Ass., 1906, v. 54, pp. 377-381. 
Eliel, Leo, discussing the methods pursued by the Committee of 
Revision, asserts that some of the work falls into the hands of people 
who will not listen to certain things. There are a number of assay 
processes in the U. S. P. that are absolutely wrong. If we follow 
them as they are now, and if we undertake to do work according to 
some of these assay processes, we are likely to reject good drugs 
because of errors in the assay processes. — Proc. Indiana Pharm. Ass., 
1906, p. 73. 
Puckner, W. A., believes that the most striking feature in connection 
with the U. S. P. VIII is the inconsistency in the adoption of assay 
processes; showing a lack of cooperation or system in the work of 
the subcommittee having this work in charge. Instead of deciding on 
some general principle for the methods of assay to be selected, each 
drug appears to have been considered by itself. Even the adapta- 
