Am'Augr'i9ih7alm'  J      Some  Pharmacopeial  English. 
365 
"  Finally  determine  the  weight  of  the  ash,  deducting  the  weight  of  the 
ash  from  the  filter." 
What  is  meant  is:  deducting  the  known  weight  of  the  filter  ash 
from  the  weight  of  the  total  ash. 
In  the  directions  for  the  biological  assay  of  cannabis,  the  state- 
ment is  made  that 
"  It  is  best  to  make  preliminary  tests  upon  several  dogs  with  average- 
sized  doses." 
What  part  of  the  dogs  are  the  doses?  Why  not  say  "using  aver- 
age-sized doses  "  ?    The  statement  is  also  made  that 
"  Before  administration  the  animal  should  not  be  fed  for  twenty-four 
hours  in  order  to  hasten  absorption." 
To  whom  is  the  animal  to  be  administered?  Why  not  say  "before 
administration  of  the  drug,  and,  better  yet,  change  the  position  of 
the  phrase. 
There  must  be  a  hoodoo  about  cannabis  for,  in  the  preface,  the 
following  appears : 
"  The  biological  assay  for  pituitary  solution  and  cannabis  and  its  prepa- 
rations is  a  requirement." 
Does  the  same  assay  answer  for  both  drugs  ?  The  form  should  be : 
The  biological  assay  of  pituitary  solution  and  of  cannabis  is  required. 
In  the  paragraph  on  ■"  Nomenclature  "  after  mentioning  the  in- 
sertion of  abbreviations  of  official  titles,  the  following  is  given : 
"  It  was  believed  that  these  will  be  of  service,  etc." 
Here  we  have  an  entirely  unnecessary  and  incorrect  change  of  the 
tense  of  the  verb. 
The  Pharmacopeia  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  so  far 
as  the  science  and  art  involved  are  concerned,  is  as  nearly  perfect 
as  human  knowledge  and  ingenuity  can  make  it.  In  fact,  it  has 
been  called  by  certain  foreign  pharmacists  the  "  autocrat  among 
Pharmacopeias."  It  is,  therefore,  all  the  more  to  be  regretted  that 
the  English  of  the  work  is  not  more  perfect. 
The  writer  has  not  attempted  to  note  all  the  errors  of  this  char- 
acter in  the  book.  In  connection  with  such  as  he  has  noted,  how- 
ever, he  has  attempted  to  give  constructive  criticism,  in  the  hope  that 
more  attention  may  be  given  to  the  English  of  the  next  revision. 
