516  Is  the  Present  an  Opportune  Timet     ^XvlXr™  T' 
It  will  be  noted  that  the  results  by  the  sulphide  method  are  some- 
what low,  due  probably  to  incomplete  oxidation  of  the  calomel. 
The  results  by  the  reduction  to  metallic  mercury  and  subsequent 
volatilization  are  variable,  and  by  volatilization  without  reduction 
they  are  high,  as  might  be  expected.  The  last  column  of  Table  III 
may  also  be  used  to  show  how  close  the  calomel  tablets  put  out  by 
good  firms  check  their  labelled  values.  No.  9  illustrates  a  case  where 
oil  is  used  in  compounding  the  tablets,  and  the  high  result  by  the 
iodide  method  indicates  a  possible  absorption  of  iodine  by  the  oil 
present.  ;    ,  I 
In  conclusion  it  is  important  to  note  that  no  case  has  as  yet  been 
encountered  where  the  sodium  peroxide  titration  method  did  not  give- 
consistent  results,  and  no  trouble  was  found  due  to  imperfect  oxi- 
dation. Undoubtedly  much  of  the  discrepancy  in  results  is  due  to 
the  chipped  condition  in  which  the  tablets  were  found,  in  some  cases 
it  being  difficult  to  obtain  the  proper  number  of  unbroken  tablets. 
In  several  cases  the  tablets  were  weighed  and  the  calomel  then 
figured  on  a  percentage  basis,  thus  checking  the  consistency  of  the 
work  of  the  operator.  In  unbroken  tablets  a  variation  of  several 
per  cent,  in  their  weights  was  found,  which  would  explain  much  of 
the  variation  in  the  last  column  of  Table  III.  Briggs  7  considers 
that  15  per  cent,  variation  in  weight  would  not  be  excessive,  which 
seems,  however,  to  be  larger  than  is  necessary. 
The  South  Dakota  Food  and  Drug  Department,  Vermilion. 
IS  THE  PRESENT  AN  OPPORTUNE  TIME  FOR  THE  RE- 
VISION OF  OUR  PATENT  LAWS  IN  SO  FAR  AS  THEY 
AFFECT   MEDICINAL  AND   CHEMICAL  PRODUCTS? 
By  John  K.  Thum,  Pharmacist  at  the  German  Hospital,  Philadelphia. 
At  the  October  meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  Branch  of  the  Ameri- 
can Pharmaceutical  Association  there  was  more  or  less  discussion 
as  to  the  advisability  of  urging  upon  Congress  at  this  time  the  need 
of  an  equitable  revision  of  our  Patent  Laws  in  so  far  as  they  relate 
to  medicines  and  chemicals  for  the  use  of  the  sick. 
There  is  no  need  at  this  time  to  enter  into  details  as  to  the  neces- 
sity for  such  revision.   All  well-informed  pharmacists  are  aware  of 
7  Briggs,  J.  Am.  Phar.  Assoc.,  vol.  iii,  33  (1914). 
