488  American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  {Kx%S^mi^' 
percentage  of  moisture,  as  also  considerable  variation  in  the  amount 
of  extract,  was  reported. 
It  was,  however,  found  that  no  class  of  substances  is  more  adul- 
terated than  the  essential  oils,  and  that  the  mixtures  sold  for  essen- 
tial oils  conform  more  closely  to  the  U.S.P.  standards  than  the 
natural  oils. 
The  report  was  supplemented  by  Dr.  H.  H.  Rusby,  who  presented 
the  following :  The  extract  of  glycyrrhiza  is  required  by  the  U.  S. 
Pharmacopoeia  to  contain  not  less  than  60  per  cent,  of  soluble 
matter,  whereas  if  properly  made  it  yields  95  per  cent,  of  soluble 
matter.  Manufacturers  thus  have  an  opportunity  of  adding  other 
materials,  and  inasmuch  as  these  are  sometimes  deleterious  in 
character,  the  Pharmacopoeia  should  specify  what  these  added  sub- 
stances should  be. 
During  the  whole  month  of  August  only  six  articles  were  con- 
demned in  the  appraiser's  office  in  New  York.  The  drugs  were 
not  only  up  to  standard,  but  of  fine  quality.  Last  year  it  was 
claimed  that  certain  imported  drugs  could  not  be  obtained  of  good 
quality,  and  the  U.S.P.  Revision  Committee  were  requested  to  reduce 
the  standards.  The  members,  however,  took  the  stand  that  if  the 
standards  were  maintained,  better  drugs  would  be  sent  to  this 
country,  and  as  a  result  there  has  been  a  steady  improvement  in 
quality.  Some  spurious  drugs  are  still  coming  in,  and  this  is  due  to 
the  fact  that  the  appraisers  are  not  yet  able  to  distinguish  the 
genuine  from  the  spurious  drugs.  These  include  strophanthus, 
jaborandi  leaves,  quebracho.  Japanese  aconite  is  imported  for 
manufacturing  purposes  and  must  be  so  labeled.  Bombay  mace, 
while  worthless  as  a  spice,  could  be  imported  for  other  purposes  if 
properly  labeled. 
Lyman  F.  Kebler  said  that  to  his  mind  the  term  powdered  asa- 
fetida  is  a  misnomer,  as  asafetida  cannot  be  powdered  unless  it  is 
admixed  with  some  other  substance,  and  he  claimed  that  the  diluent 
should  be  stated.  Referring  to  a  report  by  Dr.  A.  R.  L.  Dohme 
that  a  sample  of  asafetida  which  he  examined  yielded  60  per  cent, 
of  ash,  Dr.  Kebler  said  that  while  the  port  of  New  York  is  closed 
to  inferior  products,  the  same  supervision  does  not  yet  apply  to  the 
other  ports.  He  also  stated  that  wood  alcohol  preparations  are 
being  imported  into  this  country  for  veterinary  purposes,  and  that 
investigation  showed  that  they  are  also  being  used  in  the  treatment 
