Biological  Standardisation. 
(Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
*•  February,  1917- 
Summary  of  Objections  to  the  Official  Biological  Assay  Methods. 
The  Heart  Tonics. 
1st.  The  inaccurate  method  because  the  end  point  is  obscured 
by  (a)  variable  rate  of  absorption,  (b)  shock  in  exposing  the  heart. 
2d.  The  standard,  because  it  is  not  from  the  official  drug  and  is 
not  uniform  in  composition  or  activity. 
Cannabis  Sativa. 
1st.    The  inaccurate  wording  in  the  text. 
2d.    The  smallness  of  the  test  dose. 
3d.    The  absence  of  a  uniform  standard. 
4th.  The  non-essential  features  which  add  to  the  complications 
•of  the  method  with  no  commensurate  gain  in  the  activity  or  uni- 
formity of  the  product. 
-Suprarenal  Gland. 
The  complications  introduced  into  the  test : 
(a)  The  inaccurate  manner  of  measuring  the  test  dose. 
(b)  The  incomplete  administration  of  the  test  dose. 
(c)  The  method  of  making  a  check  assay. 
Pituitary  Gland. 
1st.    The  inaccurate  and  unsatisfactory  character  of  the  method 
2d.  The  standard,  which  is  not  adapted  to  measuring  blood 
pressure  activity,  is  not  a  practicable  oxytocic  agent  in  therapeutics 
.and  is  not  derived  from  the  pituitary  gland. 
.3d.    The  activity  of  the  standard  product. 
VFrom  the  Research  Laboratory  of  Parke  Davis  &  Co. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 
1.  Rusby.    Druggists  Circular,  Sept.,  1916. 
2.  U.  S.  Pharmacopceia,  9th  Revision,  p.  604  et  seq. 
3.  Edmunds  &  Hale.    Hygienic  Laboratory,  Bulletin  No.  48. 
4.  Houghton  &  Hamilton.    Am.  Jour,  of  Pharmacy,  Oct.,  1909. 
5.  Hamilton  &  Rowe.    /.  A.  Ph.  A.,  Jan.,  1915. 
6.  Rowe.   /.  A.  Ph.  A.,  Nov.,  191 6. 
7.  Brauns  &  Closson.   /.  A.  Ph.  A.,  1913. 
8.  Pearson.    /.  A.  Ph.  A.,  Nov.,  1916. 
9.  Hamilton.    /.  A.  Ph.  A.,  March,  1912. 
10.  Hamilton.    /.  A.  Ph.  A.,  Oct.,  1912. 
11.  Aldrich,  T.  B.    Patent  Application. 
12.  Fuhner.    Zeitschr.  f.  d.  ges.  Exp.  Med.,  1913,  I,  397. 
13.  Roth.    Hygienic  Laboratory,  Bulletin  No.  100. 
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