AFebJ^aryTi«)r8m' )    Pharmacopeia —  View  of  A  nalytical  Worker.     7  5 
THE  PHARMACOPOEIA  FROM  THE  VIEW  POINT  OF  AN 
ANALYTICAL  WORKER.1 
By  W.  A.  Pearson. 
The  Pharmacopoeia  has  been  called  the  pharmacist's  Bible.  In  it 
he  finds  directions  for  preparing,  tests,  and  standards  for  his  most 
important  wares. 
Our  national  standard  has  been  well  compiled.  Much  praise  and 
little  condemnation  belong  rightfully  to  the  Revision  Committee. 
This  publication  represents  the  combined  efforts  of  competent  men. 
Being  the  result  of  human  effort  it  cannot  possibly  be  infallible,  nor 
can  it  be  ideal  for  the  varied  needs  of  the  retail  druggist,  manufac- 
turing chemist,  wholesaler  and  analyst. 
To  the  analyst  certain  requirements  present  themselves  in  the 
examination  of  pharmaceuticals  by  U.S. P.  methods,  that  allow  of 
some  flexibility  and  might  be  made  more  definite  by  the  use  of 
methods  I  will  outline  later.  To  a  few  changes  and  additions  that 
might  prove  advantageous,  I  will  ask  your  attention. 
Acacia. — Four  grades,  A,  B,  C  and  D,  are  sold,  depending  largely 
on  color  and  general  appearance.  Some  more  definite  color  stand- 
ard would  be  valuable. 
Acetic  Acid. — Strength  could  be  raised  materially  without  loss  to 
manufacturer. 
Hydrochloric  Acid. — Standard  strength  could  be  raised  to  35  per 
cent. 
Salicylic  Acid. — Special  tests  should  be  introduced  for  limit  of 
ortho  and  meta  creasotic  acids  which  may  be  present  in  synthetic 
acid. 
Aconite. — The  criticism  that  the  pharmacopceial  assays  of  this 
drug  and  its  preparations  are  unworkable,  is  false,  yet  there  is  plenty 
of  room  for  improvement.  It  requires  a  great  deal  of  time  to  filter 
and  wash  the  concentrated  extractive,  and  the  evaporation  at  a  tem- 
perature below  6o°  C.  is  tedious.  The  physiological  dilution  test  is 
of  some  value  in  quickly  approximating  the  value  of  this  drug. 
This  test  is  based  on  the  assumption  that  six  milligrammes  of  prime 
aconite  root,  when  mixed  with  4  c.c.  of  water  and  held  in  the  anterior 
portion  of  the  mouth  for  one  minute  and  then  discharged,  will  give 
1  Read  before  the  Philadelphia  Branch  •  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical 
Association,  January  7,  1908. 
