77 
tion of the method of assay for a drug to its preparations appears to 
have been neglected for no very evident reasons. — Pharm. Rev., Mil- 
waukee, 1906, v. 24, p. 229. 
Dohme, A. R. L., maintains that the U. S. P. VIII assay processes 
for aconite, belladonna root and leaf, cinchona, coca, colchicum, 
conium, guarana, hydrastis, hyoscyamus, ipecac, nux vomica, pilo- 
carpus, scopola, stramonium, and jalap are practical and correct 
and can be carried out by a competent analyst, and that the standards 
of strength are fair and in accordance with experience. — Am. Drug- 
gist, N. Y., 1906, v. 49, p. 267. 
Rusby, H. H., says that the results of pharmaceutical assaying are 
irregular and uncertain, but he believes that the causes for this un- 
certainty can and should be overcome. He asserts that the chief 
responsibility for the present uncertainty in pharmaceutical assaying 
rests with the institutions which profess to teach pharmaceutical 
chemistry. Many of these have been conducted on a system quite as 
dishonest as anything that has existed in commerce. — Proc. Am. 
Pharm. Ass., 1906, v. 54, p. 332. 
Kebler, L. F., points out that the development of a high degree of 
accuracy in drug assaying is desirable and is to be sought through 
an application of the scientific principles which have improved other 
branches of analysis. He believes it to be necessary first to recog- 
nize the nature of the difficulties to be surmounted, determine the 
obscure causes for variation in results, and eliminate the errors usually 
ascribed to personal equation or personal error. — Proc. Off. Agric. 
Chem., 23d Ann. Conv., pp. 127-128. (Bull. Bur. Chem., U. S. Dept. 
Agric., 1907, Yo. 105.) 
Francis, John M., points out that an operator following the exact 
instructions given in the assay processes of the U. S. P. may fail to 
get the full strength of the extract by 20 to 30 or even 50 per cent, 
and this leads to no end of trouble for the pharmacist as the Phar- 
macopoeia requires that a drug or preparation when assaj'ed by the 
process given should contain a given amount of alkaloid. — Proc. Am. 
Pharm. Ass., 1906, v. 54, pp. 453, 454. 
Lyons, A. B., points out that in all shaking out processes sufficient 
of the solvent should be prescribed to extract the whole of the alkaloid, 
and the assay process should provide tests that this has been done 
in each case; or, better, the general instructions should make this 
imperative without special instructions in each instance. — Ibid ., v. 54, 
p. 441. 
Vanderkleed, Charles E., believes that practically all of the U. S. P. 
assay processes are weak in specifying certain small amounts of 
ethereal solvents for “ shaking out ” purposes. He does not believe 
that in half the cases the full amount of alkaloid can be extracted 
