AmjS''i87h7arm'}  Proposed  Changes  in  the  Pharmacopeia.  287 
In  this  connection  (as  being  also  a  matter  of  technical  detail)  it  is 
recommended  that  "cross  references  "  should  be  made.  Thus,  under 
the  head  "Opium,"  for  example,  should  be  given  a  tabular  list  of  every 
preparation  derived  from  this  substance  or  into  which  it  enters,  as 
Aceta,  Confectiones,  Emplastra,  Extracta,  Pilulae,  Pulveres,  Supposi- 
toria,  Tincturae,  Trochisci,  Vina,  including  derivative  alkaloids  and  their 
several  preparations.  Each  of  these  should  be  specifically  stated,  with 
a  reference  to  the  page  on  which  it  is  described.  This  synthetic  view- 
would  add  considerably  to  the  practical  convenience  of  consultation. 
Dr.  Squibb  thinks  that  "such  a  revision  would  decimate  the  present 
lists.  Not  that  they  are  entirely  useless,  but  that  they  are  not  appro- 
priate articles  to  be  retained  in  a  pharmacopoeia  when  they  take  up 
room  which  might  be  given'  with  greater  advantage  to  the  details  of 
primary  articles."  (p  21.)  The  necessity  for  such  a  restriction,  or  its 
advantage,  is  not  very  apparent.  The  question  of  "room"  is  one 
which  needs  hardly  be  considered.  The  first  need  or  desideratum  in 
such  a  standard  is  fulness  and  completeness:  and  we  strongly  endorse 
the  seventh  Resolution  of  the  last  Convention,  "  that,  in  the  revision 
of  the  officinal  list  and  formulas,  the  wants  of  the  mecica!  profession  in 
all  parts  of  the  United  States  should  be  considered  in  reference  to  local 
peculiarities  in  climate  and  population,  and  that  for  these  reasons  the 
scope  of  the  work  should  be  extended  rather  than  abridged." 
The  sixth  Resolution  of  the  last  Convention  ordered  "that  measures 
of  capacity  be  abandoned  in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  and  that  the  quantities 
in  all  formulas  be  expressed  both  in  weights  and  in  parts  by  weight." 
For  this  sweeping  and  radical  change  in  the  construction  of  formulas, 
no  foundation  had  been  laid  by  any  reports  or  proffered  illustrations 
from  those  interested  in  the  new  movement;  and  no  elaboration  what- 
ever attempted  by  its  authors  and  promoters,  to  guide  the  committee  in 
its  execution  of  the  mandate.  From  the  failure  of  the  revising  com- 
mittee to  carry  out  this  instruction  (the  reasons  for  which  are  briefly 
stated  in  the  preface  to  the  Pharmacopoeia,  p.  xiv.)  advantage  is  sought 
to  be  taken  to  impugn  the  efficiency  of  the  Convention  !  "  In  the  last 
revision  the  Convention  failed  to  control  its  committee  in  the  work,  or 
rather  the  committee  did  not  carry  out  the  direction  of  the  Convention^ 
and  the  Convention  has  no  redress  ;  for,  by  its  own  organic  provisions, 
it  can  only  be  called  once  in  ten  years,  and  then  by  the  chairman  of  its 
own  committee  which  declined  to  carry  out  its  orders."  (p.  12.) 
