THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
MAY,  1893. 
i*  *  X 
In  an  article1  on  this  subject,  by  Mr.  F.  X.  Moerk,  it  was  stated 
that  objections  were  frequently  made  to  the  pharmacopceial  method 
on  account  of  its  general  non-applicability  to  the  various  opium 
preparations.  Vital  as  this  is,  yet  there  confronts  those  of  us  who 
are  required  to  assay  the  various  opium  preparations  for  final 
standardizing  a  greater  difficulty. 
The  general  testimony  of  different  workers2  is  that  the  U.  S.  P. 
method  is  from  -8  to  2  per  cent,  below  the  truth.  The  process 
above  referred  to  is  a  modification  of  the  U.  S.  P.  process,  but  does 
not  provide  any  remedy  for  the  low  results.  The  questions  arise, 
shall  or  can  we  use  the  U.  S.  P.  method  for  standardizing  our  opium 
preparations  in  these  days  of  competition,  or  shall  we  use  a  method 
that  gives  higher  results  and  is  nearer  the  truth  ?  Fortunately  for 
us,  unfortunately  for  the  practitioner  and  the  consumer,  the  legally 
recognized  authority  does  not  require  us  to  standardize  the  finished 
products  of  opium,  only  the  initial  opium  requires  this. 
Take  for  example  a  practical  case :  required  to  standardize  20 
gallons  of  laudanum  so  that  each  ounce  shall  contain  6  grains  of 
morphine.  Assay  by  U.  S.  P.  method,  modified  by  Mr.  Moerk, 
gives  1*28  per  cent.  Assay  by  a  modification  of  Dr.  Squibb's  pro- 
cess gives  1*455  Per  cent.  In  the  first  case  we  are  compelled  to 
evaporate  5  pints  and   10  ounces  in  order  to  secure  the  desired 
1  1892,  Am.  J.  Phar.,  64,  354. 
2  1888,  Ephemeris,  3,  1113-1128. 
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