88         Recent  Literature  Relating  to  Pharmacy,  {^febSS^A10' 
aconite — an  occurrence  without  excuse,  since  the  appearance  of  the 
two  drugs  is  markedly  different.  H.  V.  A. 
A  PTOMAINE  RESEMBLING  STRYCHNINE. 
Mecke  and  Wimmer  (Pharnt.  Zeit.,  1898,  300),  in  a  toxicological 
examination  of  a  decomposing  corpse,  extracted  a  principle  which 
gave  with  picric  acid,  potassium  bichromate  and  potassium  sulphocy- 
anate,  the  same  reactions  as  strychnine.  It  differed  from  the  latter, 
however,  in  its  reactions  with  Froehde's  Reagent  (producing  a  dirty 
green  color)  sulphuric  acid  (yellow  to  cherry  red)  and  Erdmann's 
Reagent  (yellow),  none  of  which  affect  strychnine.  It  is  also  scarcely 
bitter  and,  injected  into  a  frog,  produced  no  toxic  effect.  It  is  evi- 
dently a  ptomaine,  and  not  the  one  reported  by  Amthor  (Bericht, 
bayerischer  Vertr.  angewant.  Chemie,  1887),  differing  from  this  in 
its  behavior  with  sulphuric  acid  and  potassium  bichromate. 
H.  V.  A. 
THE  UNITED  STATES  PHARMACOPCEIA. 
The  "  Proceedings  of  the  Missouri  Pharm.  Assoc.,  for  1898,"  gives 
a  report  through  G.  H.  Chas.  Klie,  M.D.,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee, of  the  efforts  made  to  obtain  the  opinions  of  the  medical 
profession  concerning  the  revision  of  the  next  Pharmacopoeia.  A 
circular  letter  (which  we  have  not  room  to  quote)  was  sent  out  to 
1,500  physicians,  accompanied  by  a  postal  card  which  contained  ten 
questions  printed  on  it  with  sufficient  blank  space  to  answer  yes  or 
no.  Of  the  1,500  cards  sent  out,  311,  or  20-6  per  cent,  were  re- 
turned with  all  or  more  or  less  of  the  questions  answered ;  207  of 
these  had  signatures;  104  had  none. 
Question  No.  1. — "  The  United  States  Pharmacopoeia,  is  it  your 
standard  ?"  was  answered  by  300  affirmatively;  277  answering  "  Yes," 
others  saying  "  Partly,"  "  Yes,  to  a  certain  extent,"  "  Yes,  as  far  as 
it  goes,"  "  Yes,  if  I  have  any."  One  says,  "  No,  the  general  and 
lamentable  incompetency  of  average  country  druggists  forces 
doctors  to  ready-made  remedies."  Another  says :  "  Prefer  German," 
etc.,  etc. 
Question  No.  2. — "Do  you  recommend  changes?"  brought  a  total 
of  153  answers;  affirmative,  85;  negative,  49;  non-committal, 
19;  no  answers,  158.  Some  say,  "  Yes,  all  latest,"  "  In  keeping 
with  the  times,  yes,"  "  Revision  right  up  to  date,"  "  Give  maximum 
and  minimum  doses,  also  frequency  of  dosage,"  "  Let  well  enough 
alone." 
