650  United  States  Pharmacopoeial  Revision.  { ^Sptember^ YqIo'. 
tory."  We  would  recommend  that  the  complete  details  of  this 
test  should  be  included  in  the  U.  S.  P. 
The  principal  criticism  of  the  U.  S.  P.  method  for  testing  Liquor 
Hypophysis,  however,  is  not  with  the  method  itself  but  with  the 
standard  adopted. 
Before  readopting  a  complex  substance  like  Beta-aminazolyl- 
ethylamine  Hydrochloride  as  a  standard  for  adjusting  the  strengths 
of  commercial  preparations,  a  thorough  study  of  the  following 
points  should  be  made: 
1.  Degree  of  uniformity  in  the  physiologic  action  of  different 
available  samples  of  the  proposed  standard  substance. 
2.  Rate  of  deterioration  of  solutions  of  this  substance. 
3.  Kifect  of  sterilization  on  solutions  of  this  substance. 
4.  Rate  of  deterioration  of  the  substance  itself. 
5.  Effect  of  repeated  doses  on  uterus. 
6.  The  toxicity  of  the  substance  as  compared  with  Pituitary 
Extract. 
7.  The  relative  toxicity  of  a  Pituitary  Extract  of  the  strength 
proposed  by  the  U.  S.  P.  IX  and  that  of  the  commercial  extracts  as 
supplied  by  the  leading  pharmaceutical  manufacturing  houses. 
The  standard  adopted  by  the  U.  S.  P.  IX  is  very  low,  it  having 
been  shown  by  comparison  that  the  commercial  extracts  prepared 
by  the  leading  pharmaceutical  houses,  which  have  had  prepara- 
'tions  on  the  market  for  several  years  and  with  which  the  physicians 
have  become  accustomed  as  to  dosage,  etc.,  are  from  three  to  five 
times  as  active  as  an  extract  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia  standard 
strength.  This  is  unfortunate,  as  there  is  no  reason  why  a  weaker 
preparation  than  the  one  to  which  physicians  have  become  accus- 
tomed should  be  placed  on  the  market. 
It  is  hoped,  therefore,  that  if  this  substance  is  retained  as  the 
standard  test  substance,  definite  requirements  as  to  its  purity  and 
uniformity  of  activity  can  be  drawn  up,  and  that  an  accurate  co- 
ordination of  the  required  U.  S.  P.  strength  and  of  the  common 
pharmaceutical  practice  may  be  secured. 
DRUG  ASSAY 
The  methods  given  in  the  U.  S.  P.  for  drug  assays  are  generally 
quite  satisfactory  and  there  are  but  a  few  alterations  necessary. 
The  chapter  on  proximate  assays  in  Part  Two  is  particularly  to  be 
commended,  as  it  is  clear,  complete  and  informative.    The  errons 
