THE  AMEKIOAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY 
NOVEMBER,  1915 
A  COMPARISON  OF  THE  GUINEA-PIG  AND  CAT 
METHODS  FOR  THE  PHYSIOLOGICAL  STANDARDI- 
ZATION OF  ACONITE  PREPARATIONS. 
By  J.  C.  Ford,  C.  P.  S.  Ford  and  J.  E.  Wine. 
For  some  time  it  has  been  felt  that  the  chemical  method  for  the 
assay  of  aconite  is  not  satisfactory.  Anselmino  states  1  that  the 
German  Pharmacopoeia  does  not  require  that  aconite  conform  to  a 
chemical  standard,  since  the  activity  of  the  drug  seems  entirely 
independent  of  the  alkaloidal  content.  Roth  believes  2  that  "  the 
chemical  method  of  assay  required  by  the  U.  S.  P.  for  Aconitum 
Napellus  is  not  a  measure  of  its  activity.  A  preparation  relatively 
rich  in  total  alkaloids  may  have  a  low  toxicity,  and  vice  versa." 
Stevens,  on  the  contrary,  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  chemical  method, 
while  not  absolutely  accurate,  is  of  some  value. 
In  view  of  the  unreliability  of  the  chemical  methods,  it  is  of 
interest  to  see  what  has  been  accomplished  in  the  way  of  the  phys- 
iological standardization  of  aconite. 
The  first  method  introduced  for  the  physiological  standardiza- 
tion of  aconite  preparations  was  that  used  by  Dr.  Squibb,  and  is 
known  as  the  "  Squibb  "  or  "  Taste  "  method.  In  the  performance 
of  this  test,  the  mouth  of  the  operator  is  rinsed  with  distilled  water, 
and  four  cubic  centimetres  of  the  required  dilution  of  the  prepara- 
tion to  be  assayed  is  held  in  the  anterior  part  of  the  mouth  for 
exactly  one  minute.  After  several  minutes,  a  distinct  aconite  "  im- 
pression "  is  made.  The  mucous  membrane  should  not  tingle,  but 
a  sensation  suggestive  of  tingling  should  be  produced.  A  fresh 
fluidextract  should  bring  about  the  reaction  in  a  dilution  of  one 
to  six  hundred. 
The  frog  method,  used  by  at  least  one  of  the  large  manufacturers, 
is  based  upon  the  killing  power  of  the  preparation  for  frogs.  The 
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