^ptemberfiS'}    American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  479 
under  whose  auspices  the  investigation  had  been  undertaken.  Then  followed 
the  other  papers. 
AROMATIC  WATERS. 
By  H.  V.  Arny. 
See  this  Journal,  p.  442. 
TIME  LIMITS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  PHARMACOPOEIA. 
By  Joseph  Feil. 
The  author  called  attention  to  the  desirability  of  the  U.S.  P.  prescribing  a 
time  limit  that  certain  preparations  may  be  kept.  Tr.  Iodi  will  retain  its 
strength  twice  as  long  when  kept  in  the  dark  as  when  exposed  to  the  light ; 
diluted  hydrocyanic  acid  deteriorates  to  one-half  strength  in  six  months,  and 
may  be  readily  prepared  by  the  second  process  given  in  the  U.S.P.  Among 
galenicals  that  could  be  profitably  marked  with  time  limits,  in  addition  to  other 
precautions  are  :  Syr.  of  wild  cherry,  syr.  of  altheae,  sol.  of  lead  subacetate,  cam- 
phor water,  fennel  water,  anise  water,  dilute  nitrohydrochloric  acid,  solution 
of  hydrogen  dioxide  and  certain  cerates  and  ointments. 
In  the  afternoon  session  the  following  papers  were  read  : 
THE  GENERIC  NAMES  OF  PLANTS. 
By  H.  H.  Rusby. 
The  author  indicated  the  relations  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  to  standard  authori- 
ties, and  urged  the  necessity  of  perfecting  its  formulae  and  definitions,  to  keep 
it  in  harmony  with  such  authorities.  As  changes  in  botanical  names  refer  only 
to  the  definitions,  and  do  not  affect  the  titles  by  which  the  drugs  are  known, 
neither  safety  nor  convenience  is  disturbed  by  such  changes.  We  do,  how- 
ever, secure  accuracy  for  our  guidance  in  cases  of  doubt,  calling  for  an  appeal 
to  the  definition.  If  deemed  wise  to  adopt  the  German  (Engler  and  Prautl) 
in  place  of  the  English  (Bentham  and  Hooker)  authority,  we  should  find  only 
eight  changes  involved. 
The  two  works  were  then  compared  as  to  dates  of  publication,  authorship, 
bases  of  classification,  the  ground  covered,  the  mode  of  treatment,  the  nomen- 
clature employed  and  the  judgment  displayed.  It  was  concluded  that  the  Ger- 
man work  represented  a  great  advance  in  botanical  classification,  and  its  adop- 
tion as  the  U.S.P.  standard  was  recommended. 
The  paper  was  accompanied  by  elaborate  tables  displaying  the  comparative 
order  of  arrangement,  and  the  composition  of  all  the  families  treated  in  the 
two  works. 
SCIENTIFIC  SYNONOMY  OF  OUR  INDIGENOUS  PLANTS. 
By  A.  B.  I^yons. 
In  this  paper  the  author  reviews  briefly  the  history  of  nomenclature,  and  has 
collated  the  synonyms  of  our  indigenous  plants. 
QUALITATIVE  EXAMINATION  OF  POWDERED  DRUGS. 
By  Henry  Kraemer. 
This  is  an  additional  contribution  in  the  study  of  powdered  drugs  from  this 
author,  and  deals  with  the  determination  of  any  one  of  something  like  300 
unknown  powders.    The  paper  will  be  printed  later  in  this  Journal. 
