Am,  jour.  Pharm.j        Biological  Standardisation. 
February,  1917.    J  & 
65 
A  much  more  satisfactory  test  dose  of  a  standard  cannabis  prep- 
aration is  one  which  when  administered  under  proper  conditions  will 
show  a  well-marked  action.  Then  if  the  preparation  being  tested 
is  somewhat  less  active  than  standard  or  the  dog  slightly  less  sus- 
ceptible than  normal,  an  evident  although  less  marked  effect  is  pro- 
duced. In  this  way  a  measurable  difference  can  often  be  estab- 
lished, a  difference  which  can  be  verified  by  a  second  test.  A  dose 
of  0.1  mil  of  the  standard  fluid  extract  does  not  produce  an  effect 
too  great  to  obscure  the  reaction  of  a  sample,  slightly  more  or  less 
active  than  standard.  This  dose  is  therefore  recommended  as  the 
standard  test  dose.  In  a  former  communication  the  author  (9) 
suggested  0.01  Gm.  as  the  dose  for  the  extract  and  a  minimum  dose 
of  0.09  mil  (Cc.)  of  the  fluid  extract. 
Testing  the  standard  on  each  occasion  is  an  unnecessary  and 
expensive  procedure,  since  a  dog  proved  to  be  susceptible  to  the 
standard  to  the  proper  degree  remains  fairly  constant  for  a  long 
period,  if  in  good  physical  condition.  This  is  admitted  in  the  offi- 
cial description  of  the  test  animals  (2). 
Testing  a  sample  on  two  dogs  which  have  been  chosen  because  of 
being  susceptible  to  the  standard  test  dose  of  cannabis  is  sufficient 
unless  one  or  both  exhibit  a  reaction  very  different  from  that  to  be 
expected.  In  such  a  case  the  susceptibility  of  the  dogs  should  be 
reestablished. 
Starving  a  dog  for  twenty-four  hours  is  a  longer  period  than 
necessary.  Twelve  hours  is  generally  sufficient  to  empty  the 
stomach,  and  is  less  trying  on  the  test  animals. 
Regarding  the  standard,  some  more  exact  method  should  be  de- 
vised for  obtaining  uniformity  among  manufacturers.  As  pre- 
scribed by  the  U.  S.  P.  the  activity  of  a  sample  depends  on  the 
susceptibility  of  the  dog,  and  it  may  be  any  kind  of  a  dog. 
If  a  test  is  attempted  for  the  first  time  and  no  reaction  follows, 
how  can  it  be  determined  whether  the  sample  or  the  animal  is  at 
fault? 
Since  the  test  is  compulsory  it  should  be  the  duty  of  some  cen- 
tral authority  to  supply  a  sample  which  meets  requirement  to  every 
manufacturer  of  cannabis  products,  and  so  insure  the  uniformity 
which  is  planned  to  attain. 
It  is  an  unnecessary  requirement  to  compare  each  cannabis  prep- 
aration with  the  standard  in  the  same  form.  If  the  standard  is  in  a 
stable  form  it  can  be  considered  equally  active  if  .004  Gm.  is  in  ex- 
