A^VemberPi9iT"}  Standardization  of  Aconite  Preparations. 
491 
method  was  found  absolutely  unreliable.  Our  experience  with  the 
frog  method  was  similar.  It  was  found  difficult  to  interpret  results, 
and  we  can  agree  with  Roth  that  this  method  has  little  to  recom- 
mend it. 
After  the  elimination  of  these  two  methods,  we  have  left  only 
the  guinea-pig  and  the  cat  methods.  Both  of  these  are  lethal  dose 
methods,  which  is  not  an  objectionable  feature  in  regard  to  a  drug 
like  aconite.  The  technic  of  the  guinea-pig  test  is  undoubtedly 
simpler  than  that  of  the  cat  method,  but  we  can  agree  with  Dr. 
Hatcher  that  anyone  can  easily  acquire  the  operative  skill  necessary 
for  the  performance  of  this  latter  test. 
Hatcher's  method  is  cheaper  than  the  guinea-pig  method,  so  far 
as  cost  of  animals  is  concerned,  and  possesses  the  decided  advantage 
of  rapidly  yielding  results.  In  his  earlier  paper,  Dr.  Hatcher  was 
not  enthusiastic  over  the  use  of  the  cat  method  for  aconite,  but  later 
work  seems  to  have  given  better  results.* 
In  testing  our  samples  on  guinea-pigs,  the  tinctures  were  evapo- 
rated on  a  water-bath  to  one-half  their  original  volume  and  diluted 
with  saline  to  twice  the  original  volume.  The  dose  was  calculated 
per  gramme  body  weight  and  the  injections  made  subcutaneously 
with  a  one  cubic  centimetre  glass  tuberculin  syringe,  except  when 
the  dose  was  too  large,  when  a  5  c.c.  Record  syringe  was  used.  The 
following  are  the  results  : 
Table  I. 
Doses  are  given  in  Fractions  of  a  Cubic  Centimetre  of  Official  Tincture  per 
Gramme  Body  Weight.   Survived  ~;  died  +. 
Tincture  A 
Tincture  B 
Tincture  C 
Tincture  D 
Tincture  E 
O.OOO3  - 
O.O0O3  - 
O.OOI9- 
O.OOO85  - 
O.O0O8  - 
O.OOO4  - 
O.OOO4  ~ 
0.0O2I  -J- 
O.OOO93  + 
O.OOO9  ~ 
O.OOIO  - 
O.OOIO  - 
O.O023  + 
O.OOIO  + 
O.OOIO  + 
O.OOI5  ~ 
O.OOI5  ~ 
O.OO29  + 
O.OOI3O  + 
O.OO  1 1  + 
O.OO24  - 
O.O03O  - 
O.O0I3  + 
O.OO27  + 
O.OO37  - 
O.0O30  + 
O.OO46  ~ 
0.0057  - 
O.0072  + 
Only  four  samples  were  tested  on  cats. 
The  method 
of  proced 
was  to  dilute  the  tinctures  in  the  proportion  of  one  to  ten  and  add  salt 
to  make  an  isotonic  solution.    The  injections  were  made  into  the 
*  Personal  communication. 
