49§  American  PJiarmaceuticai  Association.  {Anoc"toberPimm' 
NOTES  ON  ODOR  STANDARDS. 
By  W.  C.  Alpers. 
Odors  have  been  classified  by  many  investigators,  the  oldest  being  Linnaeus, 
who  established  seven  odors,  beginning  with  ethereal  odors  and  ending  with 
nauseating  odors.  These  classifications  leave  the  decision  to  the  likes  or  dis- 
likes of  the  observer,  and  lack  scientific  precision.  It  is  necessary  to  take  the 
physiological  function  of  smelling  into  account.  A  chemical  reaction  takes 
place  between  the  odorous  substance  and  the  secreted  serum  on  the  ends  of 
the  olfactory  nerves.  To  substantiate  this  theory,  the  author  quoted  from  a 
paper  by  O.  I.  B.  Wolff,  who,  by  means  of  the  olfactory  apparatus  of  the  bee, 
and  with  the  aid  of  the  microscope,  proved  the  correctness  of  the  view.  A 
further  proof  is  found  in  the  sensation  caused  when  the  ions  of  a  weak  solu- 
tion of  some  salt  held  in  the  nostrils  are  gathered  by  means  of  an  electric 
current  at  the  two  poles,  one  of  which  is  formed  by  the  olfactory  nerves.  In 
the  case  of  NaCl  and  NaN02  the  same  sensation  is  experienced  as  when  Na  ions 
are  gathered  around  the  nerve  ;  different  sensations  when  CI  or  N02  ions  are 
gathered  there. 
Therefore,  only  volatile  substances  of  definite  composition  can  form  odor 
standards,  so  that  only  one  reaction  may  take  place  and  only  one  sensation 
be  produced.  All  substances  whose  odor  depends  on  a  series  of  volatile  sub- 
stances will  produce  mixed  odors.  The  author  believed  that,  by  studying  the 
sensations  produced  by  definite  chemical  compounds,  a  scientific  classification 
of  odors  will  some  day  be  possible. 
FURTHER  WORK  UPON  THE  ESTIMATION  OF  ALKALOIDS  AND 
THE  ASSAY  OF  ALKALOIDAL  DRUGS. 
By  H.  M.  Gordin  and  A.  B.  Prescott. 
This  paper  will  be  printed  in  full  in  a  later  issue  of  this  Journal. 
DIRECTIONS  FOR  CERTAIN  ALKALOIDAL  ASSAYS. 
By  H.  M.  Gordin  and  A.  B.  Prescott. 
This  paper  is  printed  in  full  in  this  Journal.    See  p.  462. 
THE  VALUATION  OF  DRUGS. 
By  Henry  Kraemer. 
The  author  considered  this  subject  from  a  rather  broad  standpoint,  and  en- 
deavored to  bring  into  the  consideration  of  it  as  many  things  as  will  assist  in  the 
solution  of  the  problems  involved.  The  methods  considered  were  :  (1)  Chemi- 
cal ;  (2)  Physical  ;  (3)  Microscopical ;  (4)  Biological  ;  (5)  General  optical.  This 
paper  will  be  printed  in  full  in  later  issues  of  this  Journal. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL  ACTION   AS  A  DEPARTMENT  OF  PHARMACEU- 
TICAL SCIENCE. 
By  E  M.  Houghton. 
This  paper  is  printed  in  full  in  this  Journal.    See  p.  473. 
THE  COMPOSITION  OF  HYDRASTIS. 
By  A.  R.  L.  Dohme  and  Hermann  Engelhardt. 
The  authors  made  an  examination  of  the  drug  collected  in  fall  and  spring 
and  of  the  rhizome  free  from  the  roots  and  the  roots  alone  as  well.  They 
