1 68  Suggestions  for  National  Formulary.     {^™-  ^^Jch^^": 
The  majority  of  quinine  formate  on  the  market  contains  water 
of  crystalHzation  equivalent  to  about  5  per  cent,  of  its  weight.  The 
melting  intervals  vary  greatly.  The  quinine  content  is  perfectly 
satisfactory,  as  all  samples  assay  100  per  cent,  or  slightly  over,  of 
anhydrous  quinine  formate  when  the  salt  is  dried  at  100°  C.  and 
assayed  for  quinine  alkaloid. 
The  following  results  were  obtained  on  6  lots  examined  during 
the  past  two  years: 
Sample  No.  Loss  at  100°  C.  Melting  Interval. 
1    I20-I22  °  C.  (Not  dried; 
2    124-126°  C.  (Not  dried) 
3    145-150°  C.  (Not  dried) 
4  5  .32%  169-171°  C.  (Dried) 
5  5  00%  155-156°  C.  (Dried) 
6  4  20  153-154°  C.  (Dried) 
CRUDE  DRUGS  FOR  WHICH  NO  PRACTlCAI^  CHEMICAL  OR  PHYSIOLOGIC 
METHODS  OF  STANDARDIZATION  ARE  AVAILABLE. 
Standards  based  upon  the  amount  of  soluble  matter,  extracted 
by  the  menstrum  used  in  preparing  fluid  extract  or  tincture  from  the 
drug,  should  be  adopted  in  order  to  establish  uniformity  in  the  use 
of  these  naturally  variable  medicinal  substances.  Limits  which  will 
include  all  natural  variations  should  be  established  and  an  average 
adopted  upon  which  the  proportionate  use  of  the  drug  must  be  based. 
These  standards  constitute  the  familiar  "extractive  standards" 
and  no  difficulty  should  be  experienced  by  the  Revision  Committee 
in  obtaining  satisfactory  data  for  the  establishment  of  these  stand- 
ards, from  the  scientific  laboratories  of  pharmaceutical  manufac- 
turing companies,  who  exercise  scientific  control  of  manufacture  and 
also  from  other  scientific  sources. 
EXTRACTS. 
Extract  Euonymtis. — Very  little  of  this  extract  is  used  and  dele- 
tion is  suggested,  or  continuance  in  the  next  edition  by  name  only 
with  reference  to  the  present  edition. 
Extract  Hematoxylon. — The  remarks  under  Extract  Euonymus 
also  apply  to  this  Extract. 
Extract  Jalap. — An  assay  process  and  standard  might  be  in- 
cluded in  the  next  edition  for  this  product,  for  the  purpose  of  es- 
tablishing uniformity  in  market  supplies. 
