342  The  Pharmacopoeia  of  Switzerland.    { Am'ju^c,\m?Tm' 
In  this  formula  the  glacial  acetic  acid  liberates  the  combined 
cantharidin  and  the  resulting  preparation  represents  the  full  activity 
of  the  drug.  The  finished  product  is  clear,  green  in  color,  and  ex- 
ceedingly active.  It  is  a  marked  improvement  over  the  present 
official  cantharidal  collodion  and  should  displace  that  formula  in 
subsequent  revisions. 
THE  PHARMACOPOEIA  OF  SWITZERLAND. 
By  M.  I.  Wiubert, 
Apothecary  at  the  German  Hospital,  Philadelphia. 
"Pharmacopoeia  Helvetica,  Editio  Quarta,"  is  the  official  title  of 
the  book,  that,  in  many  respects  at  least,  appears  to  embody  the 
most  recent  researches  and  the  most  modern  advances  in  matters 
pharmacopceial. 
This  new  fourth  edition  of  the  Swiss  Pharmacopoeia  became  the 
official  standard  for  medicinal  substances  throughout  Switzerland, 
on  March  I,  1908,  and,  largely  on  account  of  its  comprehensiveness 
and  scientific  character,  the  book  itself  has  attracted  an  unusual 
amount  of  attention  in  pharmaceutical  circles  abroad. 
Even  the  most  cursory  inspection  of  the  Swiss  Pharmacopoeia  will 
convince  the  trained  pharmacist  that  it  is  a  book  that  contains  much 
that  is  original  and  evidences  great  thoroughness  in  its  preparation. 
Every  page  of  this  book  is  so  indicative  of  painstaking,  conscien- 
tious work  on  the  part  of  the  members  of  the  revision  commission, 
that  it  would  be  difficult  indeed  to  single  out  any  one  department 
or  portion  of  the  book  as  being  even  suggestive  of  greater  thor- 
oughness than  any  other. 
Throughout  the  book  there  are  indications  that  the  individual 
apothecary  of  Switzerland  must  be  a  man  of  considerable  training 
and  attainment,  and  one  who  has  developed  the  science  as  well  as 
the  art  of  his  calling  to  a  high  degree.  The  need  for  testing  all 
available  medicaments  for  their  identity,  and,  so  far  as  possible,  for 
their  quality  and  purity,  is  everywhere  emphasized,  and  considerable 
care  appears  to  have  been  exercised  in  the  selection  of  tests  and 
processes  for  applying  them,  so  as  to  provide  methods  that  can  be 
followed  with  a  minimum  of  time  and  material.  Care  has  also  been 
exercised  to  restrict  tests  and  methods  within  reasonable  limitations, 
and  everywhere  the  resources  and  the  limitations  of  the  ordinary 
