598  Revision  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.  {Am-&f9:3arm- 
extensively  used  for  some  years,  especially  as  an  application  to 
mucous  membranes,  and  the  alkaloid  hydrastine  or  its  hydrochloride 
should  have  been  introduced. 
Hyoscine  Hydrobromide  and  Hyoscyamine  Hydrobromide  are 
deserved  admissions.  Aconitine  and  Homatropine  Hydrobromide 
should  also  have  been  admitted  as  their  use  would  necessitate  recog- 
nition. 
Infusions  and  decoctions  have  both  been  reduced  to  five  per  cent, 
unless  otherwise  directed,  and  maceration  in  the  former  is  directed 
for  an  half  hour  only.  The  formula  for  Infusion  of  Digitalis  is 
changed  again.  In  1 870,  tincture  of  cinnamon  was  directed  ;  in  1880, 
cinnamon  and  now  cinnamon  water.  The  digitalis  is  now  rightly 
directed  to  be  bruised  not  powdered.  Maceration  is  only  until  the 
mixture  is  cold,  not  for  two  hours  as  heretofore. 
Iodoform  is  official  only  in  crystals,  but  it  is  now  generally  seen  in 
powder  only. 
Jalap  is  still  required  to  yield  "  not  less  than  12  per  cent,  of  resin." 
Shortly  after  the  revision  of  1 880,  Dr.  Squibb,  Turner  and  Drescher, 
all  reported  examinations  showing  that  the  jalap  in  the  market 
yielded  less  than  10  per  cent,  resin.  While  recently,  some  lots  have 
appeared  in  the  market  yielding  12  per  cent,  that  requirement  would 
exclude  most  in  the  market.  It  would  have  been  as  well  to  have 
fixed  the  limit  at  not  less  than  10  per  cent. 
Lemon  Peel  is  official  for  the  sole  purpose  of  using  it  in  spirit  of 
lemon,  yet  the  lemon  peel  described  under  the  official  title  of 
u  Limonis  Cortex "  is  not  that  directed  in  spirit  of  lemon.  The 
description  should  be  "  the  outer  or  yellow  epidermal  surface  grated 
from  the  ripe  fruit T 
Linimentum  Calcis  is  again  linseed  oil  and  lime  water,  old  "carron 
oil."  The  substitution  of  cotton-seed  oil  in  this  and  in  Linimentum 
Ammonise  by  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  1880,  was  an  inexcusable  blunder 
and  the  retention  of  this  oil  in  the  volatile  liniment  of  1890,  is  a 
persistent  continuation  in  a  palpable  error  which  is  beyond  explana- 
tion. Olive  oil  is  admittedly  the  best  for  this  purpose,  producing 
the  smoothest  and  thickest  liniment.  The  very  consistence  of  the 
liniment  produced,  giving  it  the  property  of  retaining  the  ammonia 
for  a  time,  assuring  the  action  desired  and  rendering  it  more  valu- 
able than  the  other  oils  which  saponify  less  perfectly  with  ammonia. 
It  is  amusing  to  note  the    substitutes  that  have  been  proposed 
