66 
Pharmacopceial  Preparations. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
1    February,  1899. 
Aqua  Hydrogenii  Dioxidi 
Amyl  Nitris  
Chloroform  
Kxtractum  Opii  
Opium  
Opii  Pulvis  
Spiritus  Frumenti  .... 
4  grammes, 
io  grammes, 
io  grammes 
200  c.c. 
75  c.c. 
70  c.c. 
IO  c.c. 
Glonoini  . 
Viui  Gallici 
200  c.c. 
20  c.c. 
Syrupus  Acidi  Hydriodici 
Vinum  Album  
32  grammes. 
80  c.c. 
150  c.c. 
Rubrum 
"The  rare  alkaloids  as  hydrastine  hydrochlorate,  hyoscine  hydro- 
bromate,  hyoscyamine  hydrobromate,  and  sulphate;  physostigmine 
salicylate,  and  sulphate,  and  pilocarpine ;  also  elaterin,  gold  and 
sodium  chloride,  musk,  many  volatile  oils,  etc.,  require  certain 
tests,  such  as  melting  point,  solubility,  boiling  point,  specific 
gravity,  residue  on  ignition,  and  other  tests  not  specifying  a  definite 
amount  of  substance,  but,  even  with  strict  economy  of  material  the 
loss  in  most  cases  is  more  than  the  retail  druggist  can  afford.  The 
retailer  buys  from  a  reliable  manufacturer  who  standardizes  his  gal- 
enical preparations  and  guarantees  his  goods  to  conform  to  the 
U.S. P.  requirements.  The  expense  of  analysis  to  the  manufacturer 
is  insignificant  in  cost  of  material  used,  as  the  following  compari- 
son makes  clear : 
"A.  The  retailer  makes  2,000  c.c.  tincture  opium  and  takes  100 
c.c.  for  assay  (equivalent  to  5  per  cent.). 
"B.  The  manufacturer  makes  100  gallons  (360,000  c.c.)  of  the 
same  preparation  and  takes  200  c.c.  for  assay  (having  the  advantage 
of  duplicates  for  correction  of  possible  errors)  which  is  equivalent 
to  about  one-twentieth  of  1  per  cent.    The  difference  is  apparent." 
Another  suggestion  from  the  same  source  was  not  so  important, 
but  is  given  here  for  what  it  is  worth.  "Why  are  the  U.S  P.  oint- 
ments the  only  class  of  preparations  where  the  quantity  directed  to 
be  prepared  is  varied  according  to  the  costliness  or  use  of  the  pre. 
paration  ?  The  same  might  be  done  for  consistency's  sake  with 
some  of  the  other  U.S. P.  preparations.  For  example:  1,000  c.c, 
the  quantity  directed  for  tincture  musk,  would  cost  about  $30,  and 
would  be  sufficient  to  last  for  many  years  in  most  stores.  Tritura- 
tion of  elaterin,  100  grammes,  would  cost  about  10,  and  would 
last  forever." 
