330  Fifth  Revision  German  Pharmacopoeia.  [^'''\)yS^\^\"'^' 
ure  is  the  statement  of  ash  content  quite  generally  given.  The 
method  of  stating  the  amount  of  alcohol  soluble  content  in  sucn 
drugs  as  asafetida  and  benzoin  is  to  be  commended  as  clear  and 
worthy  of  copying  in  the  U.S. P.  Our  Pharmacopoeia  directs  that 
benzoin  be  "  almost  wholly  soluble  in  5  parts  of  warm  alcohol." 
The  German  Pharmacopoeia  that  on  thorough  extraction  with  boil- 
ing alcohol  the  residue  on  drying  must  not  exceed  5  per  cent,  of  the 
benzoin." 
The  Ph.  Gr.  rec^uires  for  asafetida  that  "  on  thoroughly  ex- 
tracting with  boiling  alcohol,  and  drying  the  residue  at  100°  C.  it 
shonld  not  exceed  50  per  cent,  of  the  amount  taken.  The  ash  is 
limited  to  "  not  over  15  per  cent.,"  the  U.S. P.  states  "  not  less  than 
50  per  cent,  should  dissolve  in  alcohol,"  and  the  ash  limit  is  not  more 
than  10  per  cent. 
Assay  processes  are  greatly  extended  and  improved  and  new 
ones  are  added  for  a  great  many  articles  not  heretofore  assayed. 
As  examples  of  the  extent  to  which  assaying  has  been  extended  may 
be  mentioned  mustard  paper  and  pomegranate  bark.  The  selection 
of  the  articles  assayed,  however,  is  not  readily  understood.  As,  for 
example,  assays  are  given  for  oils  of  cinnamon,  lavender,  santal  and 
mustard,  the  latter  being  the  synthetic  oil,  yet  no  assays  are  given 
for  oils  of  anise,  lemon,  peppermint  or  rosemary  ec[ually  important 
and  assayable.  In  the  alkaloidal  assays  where  the  alkaloid  is  esti- 
mated by  titration  iodeosin  is  the  indicator  commonly  directed. 
Where  assay  processes  are  not  available,  not  infrequently  identifi- 
cation tests  are  given.  As  example,  Borntrager's  reaction  for 
oxymethylanthroquinones  is  given  as  a  characteristic  test  for  the 
fluid  extracts  of  frangula  and  cascara  sagrada. 
The  attempt  to  follow  the  protocol  of  the  Brussels  International 
Conference  is  evidenced  not  only  in  the  adoption  of  the  Normal 
Drop  Counter  recommended  but  also  in  the  adoption  of  many  of 
the  formulas  and  standards  for  potent  drugs.  Such  adoption  is  indi- 
cated by  a  subtitle  in  Latin  with  P.  I.  appended.  However,  there 
are  a  number  of  instances  where  deviation  in  menstruum  from  the 
international  70  per  cent,  alcohol  is  made,  yet  the  P.  I.  is  ap- 
pended. Example,  Tinctura  Cantharidis  and  Tinctura  lodi  in  which 
alcohol  is  directed.  In  a  number  of  other  cases  where  some  devia- 
tion has  been  allowed  the  P.  I.  is  not  appended  as,  for  example, 
Tincture  of  Aconite,  although  10  per  cent,  drug  is  not  indicated  as 
international  probably  because  no  assay  is  given.    Nux  Vomica  and 
