290 
The  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1914. 
antitoxines,  Dr.  Somers  demonstrates  that  from  the  very  nature 
of  the  disease  no  single  therapeutic  agent  can  act  as  a  specific,  nor 
even  modify  the  symptoms  in  every  case.  The  serum  formerly  used 
was  prepared  by  the  action  of  the  pollen  toxin  of  either  spring  or 
fall  plants  upon  the  horse,  and  the  resulting  serum  bodies  being 
the  therapeutic  agent  employed.  Many  experiments  with  the  pollen 
toxin  upon  individuals  subject  to  hay  fever  have  shown  that  in 
dilutions  of  one  in  ten  thousand,  when  placed  in  the  eyes  or  nose, 
typical  attacks  of  hay  fever  have  been  produced,  in  which  the 
symptoms  are  as  irregular  and  peculiar  as  in  a  natural  attack.  The 
use  of  the  antitoxin  in  these  artificial  cases  promptly  checks  the 
symptoms  and  causes  the  attack  to  disappear.  In  the  case  of  in- 
dividuals not  subject  to  hay  fever  the  toxin  had  no  effect  whatever. 
An  antitoxin  has  been  prepared  by  Dunbar,  combining  pollen  from 
spring  plants  and  fall  grasses,  and  has  been  experimented  with  with 
satisfactory  results.  Summarizing  the  experience  of  ten  years'  use 
of  pollen  antitoxin,  the  following  conclusions  were  reached:  "  1. 
The  serum  produces  prompt  and  positive  amelioration  of  the  symp- 
toms of  hay  fever  in  the  majority  of  cases.  2.  In  a  smaller  number 
this  is  accompanied  with  complete  disappearance  of  the  affection  for 
that  particular  season.  3.  When  results  are  obtained,  it  favorably 
influences  all  the  manifestations  of  hay  fever  in  the  larger  number 
of  cases,  while  in  a  smaller  class  one  or  more  of  the  symptoms  seem 
to  be  most  markedly  influenced.  4.  When  given  during  the  attack 
of  hay  fever,  irrespective  of  its  severity,  it  produces  palliation  rather 
than  absolute  cure.  5.  When  successfully  used  during  one  season, 
it  does  not  prevent  the  reappearance  of  the  disease  the  following 
season,  although  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  a  slight  influence  in 
modifying  further  attacks  does  exist." 
Philip  F.  Fackenthall. 
THE  U  S.  PHARMACOPOEIA  IX. 
Prof.  Joseph  P.  Remington,  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Re- 
vision, in  a  recent  address  before  the  New  York  Branch  of  the 
A.  Ph.  A.,  stated  that  the  work  of  revision  was  fast  approaching  com- 
pletion and  that  the  book  would  soon  be  printed.  By  international 
agreement  it  will  contain  the  same  strength  and  doses  for  all  power- 
ful preparations  as  do  many  of  the  leading  pharmacopoeias  of  the 
world.   Tentatively,  there  will  be  798  articles  in  the  new  U.  S1.  P. 
