596  Revision  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.  {Ami^'i893arm' 
The  conversion  of  these  weights  into  their  relative  exact  equiva- 
lents is  an  utter  impossibility — and  though  the  error  may  be  of  no 
practical  importance,  it  is  certainly  no  true  representation  of  the 
terms  employed. 
If  we  wish  to  weigh  1 ,000  Grammes  let  us  use  a  Thousand  Gramme 
Weight — and  not  32  Troy  Ounces  and  72  4  Grains. 
If  the  Decimal  System  is  our  theory,  let  the  Decimal  System  be 
our  Practice  also. 
The  total  weights  added  together  of  all  the  quantities  indicated 
in  the  U.  S.  P.  amounts  to  about  277,700  Kl.  Gr.,  and  the  total 
resulting  error  collectively  by  the  substitution  of  Ounces  and  Grains 
in  the  place  of  Kl.  Grms.  amounts  to  over  1 2,000  Grains,  or  about  one- 
twenty-fifth  of  a  Grain  to  the  Kil.  Gr. 
Another  curious  fact  brought  out  in  connection  with  the  substi- 
tution of  Troy  Ounces  and  Grns.  for  Kil.  Grms.  Allowing  one 
minute  for  consulting  the  table  for  converting  each  of  the  906 
Weights  mentioned  into  Troy  Weight,  we  are  wasting  over  fifteen 
hours'  time  beside  risking  chances  of  error. 
In  view  of  these  facts  why  not  adopt  the  System  bodily  which 
our  faithful  and  honored  committee  have  given  us  after  so  much 
labor  ? 
THE  UNITED  STATES  PHARMACOPOEIA  OF  1890. 
By  George  M,  Beringer,  A.M.,  Ph.G.  
[Continued  from  p.  528. ] 
On  page  167,  we  are  told  that  syrupus  sarsaparilla  compositus  is 
made  from  the  compound  fluid  extract  of  sarsaparilla.  It  is  the 
fluid  extract  of  sarsaparilla  that  is  directed  in  the  formula  for  syrup 
and  not  the  compound  fluid  extract. 
The  formula  and  process  for  the  manufacture  of  Ferric  Chloride 
should  be  omitted.  It  is  now  supplied  in  a  pure  condition,  and  at 
such  price  by  manufacturers  that  the  pharmacist  will  not  attempt 
its  preparation. 
As  the  soluble  Citrate  of  Iron  and  Quinine  has  been  introduced, 
in  which  the  percentage  of  Iron  and  Quinine  is  practically  the  same 
as  in  the  Iron  and  Quinine  Citrate,  the  latter  might  now  be  omitted. 
In  the  preparation  of  Saccharated  Ferrous  Iodide,  one  per  cent,  of 
reduced  iron  is  added  to  preserve  the  ferrous  iodide  from  change  to 
ferric  salt.    The  term  "  soluble  "  has  been  attached  to  the  official 
