Am.  Jour.  Pharn  .  ) 
January,  1903.  J 
International  Conference. 
the  subjects  above  referred  to,  although  considered  more  from  a 
chemical  standpoint,  are  quite  in  accordance  with  those  recently 
expressed  by  two  eminent  medical  men,  one  in  England  and  the 
other  in  Germany. 
Professor  Cash,  of  Owen's  College,  Manchester,  in  an  article 
entitled :  "  On  the  pharmacological  action  and  therapeutical  em- 
ployment of  pseudaconitine  and  japaconitine  "  {British  Medical 
Journal,  October,  1902,  p.  1243),  remarks  as  follows  : 
"  Used  inwardly,  pseudaconitine  and  japaconitine,  given  in  the 
proportions  indicated,  may  be  employed  for  moderating  circulatory 
activity  in  some  febrile  states,  lor  the  relief  of  pain,  and  for  other 
purposes  which  have  been  answered  by  the  exhibition  of  aconitine. 
may  be  added  that  solutions  of  the  alkaloids  zvould  be  very  preferable 
for  employment  to  preparations  of  the  plants  wh  eh  yield  them,  for  in 
the  latter  the  main  alkaloids  not  only  vary  in  proportion,  but  are  often 
associated  with  other  principles  which  have  a  someivhat  neutralizing  or 
qualifying  effect!1 
Prof.  Oscar  Liebreich,  of  Berlin,  in  an  article  entitled:  "  On  the 
therapeutic  value  of  cantharidin  "  {British  Medical  Journal,  October, 
1902,  p.  1231),  says  : 
"Tincture  of  cantharides,  even  if  prepared  with  the  greatest  care, 
cannot  be  regarded  as  anything  but  most  uncertain  in  composition, 
and  this  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  active  principle  in  cantharides 
varies  between  0-3  and  o-6  per  cent.  Moreover,  I  consider  that, 
broadly  speaking,  a  tincture  is  not  a  suitable  fotm  for  administering 
exceedingly  powerful  drugs  such  as  cantharides.  It  was  not  until 
Robiquet  succeeded  in  preparing  the  active  principle  of  cantharides 
in  a  crystalline  form  that  the  therapeutic  employment  of  this  drug 
could  be  considered  afresh." 
It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  at  such  a  conference  the  decisions 
should  be  always  in  accordance  with  the  views  of  individual  dele- 
gates or  in  all  respects  unanimous,  but,  when  the  diversity  of 
nations  represented  is  considered,  it  must  be  said  that  the  proceed- 
ings were  characterized  by  a  remarkable  degree  of  harmony,  and  by 
a  willingness  on  the  part  of  every  one  to  make  such  concessions  as 
were  possible  in  conforming  with  the  wishes  of  the  majority. 
cal  standardization,  and  therefore  depend  entirely  upon  physiological  tests. 
The  determination  of  iolal  alkaloid,  as  has  been  proposed,  can  certainly  afford 
but  a  very  imperfect  indication  of  the  value  or  therapeutic  activity  of  aconite, 
in  the  form  in  which  the  drug  is  generally  available. 
