80 
and complex nature of its application. — Arb. a. d. pharm. Inst. d. 
Univer. Berl., 1906, pp. 57-61. 
Jonescu, D., elaborates on the work done by Thoms in connection 
with the quantitative estimation of alkaloids by means of potassium 
bismuth iodide solution. He concludes that atropine, strychnine, 
quinine, caffeine, and antipyrine may be accurately determined by this 
method. — Ber. d. pharm. Gesellsch. Berl., 1906, v. 211, pp. 130-133. 
Matthes and Bannnstedt review the literature relating to the 
determination of alkaloids by means of potassium bismuth iodide 
and enumerate the several references. — Pharm. Ztg. Berl., 1906, v. 
51, pp. 1031-1033. 
Caesar and Loretz outline a series of assays for various drugs, and, 
in the introductory, enumerate the materials that are necessary for 
the successful Carrying out of these several processes. They point 
out that the materials needed are simple, inexpensive, and that every 
pharmacist should be able successfully to follow the methods as out- 
lined. — Geschafts-Ber. v. Caesar & Loretz, 1906, p. 87. 
Gordin, H. M., describes and figures two separatory funnels for 
use in the assav of drills by immiscible solvents. — Proc. Am. Pharm. 
Ass., 1906, v. 51, p. 378. 
Eldred. Frank R., describes and figures a percolator which he has 
found useful in the assaying of drugs. — J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1906, v. 
28, pp. 187, 188. 
6. PHYSIOLOGICAL STANDARDIZATION. 
Galloway, B. T., in transmitting the manuscript of Bulletin 112 
to the Secretary of Agriculture, says : 
Among the great advance steps taken by medicine in later years, the attempt 
to bring medicinal agents to known and, when possible, uniform standards of 
action is one of the most important. Many drugs are now standardized by 
chemical methods and can be administered by the physician in full confidence 
that his remedy is capable of exerting the desired degree of action. In the 
case of others in which the active principles are not as yet known or in which 
the principles will not admit of isolation, testing by physiological means has 
come to be recognized as a prime necessity. Since this phase of drug investi- 
gation is still young, a considerable diversity in methods exists. — Bull. Bur. 
Plant Ind., U. S. Dept. Agric., 1907, No. 112. 
Maben, T., discusses the need of standardizing galenical prepara- 
tions and the rationale on which it is based. He quotes from the 
Brit. Med. J. for 1905 to show that the need of standardizing prepa- 
rations of active drugs for which no chemical standards have been 
developed is being recognized and points out that for such prepara- 
tions the best scientific opinion is on the side of physiological stand- 
ardization. — Pharm. J., Bond., 1906, v. 22, pp. 61-63. 
Editorial comment. — Ibid ., p. 56. 
