^eptemberl11!™"}    American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  515 
All  of  the  operators  did  not  adhere  to  the  prescribed  instructions,  so  that  their 
results  are  not  comparable  with  the  results  of  the  other  members.  Prof.  Cas- 
pari,  the  third  member  of  the  Committee,  discussed  the  difficulty  of  determining 
the  end-reaction,  and  mentioned  different  efforts  he  had  made  in  the  work  to 
carefully  study  the  changes  in  color.  He  objected  to  the  prescribed  methods  for 
standardization  of  the  acid  solutions,  also  to  the  use  of  alcohol  in  the  titration  of 
the  alkaloids  and  alkaloidal  residues.  His  views  on  this  last-named  objection  will 
be  found  below,  as  he  subsequently  read  a  contribution  embodying  them.  During 
the  discussion  which  followed,  the  difficulty  of  detecting  the  presence  of  minute 
excess  of  alkali  and  acid,  was  mentioned.  Prof.  Lloyd  spoke  of  a  method  used 
by  Dr.  Waldbott,  of  Cincinnati,  for  this  purpose.  It  consisted  in  taking  a  small 
quantity  of  the  liquid  from  the  bulk  by  means  of  a  capillary  tube,  and  pressing 
the  end  of  the  tube  against  the  test-paper,  while  the  latter  was  allowed  through 
capillarity  to  conduct  the  water  away  from  the  dissolved  matter,  thereby  serv- 
ing to  concentrate  the  action  at  the  point  of  contact,  and  make  a  perceptible 
change  in  the  color  of  the  paper.  Referring  to  Brazil  wood,  Professor  Rusby 
said  there  were  at  least  two  varieties  in  the  market,  but  that,  after  much  effort, 
he  had  not  been  able  to  trace  them  to  their  sources.  Prof.  Prescott  reminded 
the  Section  of  the  difficulties  experienced,  until  about  fifteen  years  ago,  in  the 
titration  of  phosphoric  acid,  and  stated  that  the  anomalies  in  the  estimation  of 
the  cinchona  alkaloids  volumetrically  might  still  be  overcome,  as  were  the 
difficulties  of  that  inorganic  substance.  Messrs.  Hereth,  Fennel  and  Payne 
also  participated  in  the  discussion,  and  Prof.  Bartley  moved  that  the  committee 
be  continued  next  year,  as  they  were  certainly  ascertaining  whether  or  not 
alkaloids  could  be.  estimated  by  volumetric  methods.  Chairman  Kliel  being 
absent,  Prof.  Bartley  presented  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Revision  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia.  It  was  referred  to  the  next  session  for  reading  and  discus- 
sion. Professor  Prescott,  as  Chairman,  reported  for  the  Special  Research  Com- 
mittee. The  committee  was  granted  authority  over  the  expenditure  of  its 
appropriation.  The  work  of  the  committee  was  presented  at  the  following  ses- 
sions. Besides  these  papers  the  committee  had  been  engaged  in  outlining  alka- 
loidal assay  methods,  to  give  the  best  uniform  results  in  adjusting  standards  of 
strength  for  the  active  and  poisonous  drugs,  in  devising  methods  for  the  isola- 
tion of  active  principles,  and  in  collecting  bibliography,  considerable  of  which 
had  been  called  for  during  the  year.  Taraxacum,  cascara  sagrada,  solanine, 
compounds  of  bismuth  with  organic  bases  and  olive  oil  were  prominent  articles 
on  the  list  of  substances  whose  bibliography  was  being  compiled.  The  Com- 
mittee placed  itself  on  record  as  not  being  responsible  for  the  individual  contri- 
butions of  its  members  or  associates.  It  was  thought  a  distinctive  function 
might  be  made  for  the  committee  by  having  it  co-operate  with  the  National  Com- 
mittee on  the  Revision  of  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia  in  the  investigation 
of  one  particular  drug  or  matter  of  importance.  The  Committee  recommended 
that  subsequent  committees  be  yearly  elected  for  the  same  purposes,  as  it  had 
existed.  Professor  Sadtler  suggested  that  the  Committee  be  made  a  part  of  the 
Section.  The  report  was  received  and  the  recommendations  approved  and 
adopted. 
There  was  considerable  discussion  regarding  the  manner  and  conditions 
under  which  the  Committee  should  be  continued.  The  question  was  finally 
referred  to  Messrs.  Bartley,  Prescott  and  Thompson  for  consideration,  and 
