49°  American  Pharmaceutical  Association,  {^ptimbef.'wgs!1, 
straight  with  a  smooth  surface,  the  part  that  merges  it  into  the  root  is  almost 
invariably  twisted  and  slightly  annulated.  This  then  divided  the  ipecac  root 
of  commerce  into  three  parts,  root,  merging  portion  and  stems  which  shall  here 
be  designated  respectively  as  fancy  root,  wiry  root  and  stems. 
Two  lots,  "A"  and  "B,"  of  commercial  ipecac  root,  were  spread  out  separ- 
ately, and  each  divided  up  into  the  three  portions.  All  six  portions  were 
assayed  by  Keller's  method,  using  titration  with  volumetric  acid  solution,  and 
with  the  following  results: 
Sample  11  A."  Sample  "i?." 
Fancy  root    .  .  2'oo  per  cent,  alkaloids.  2*33  per  cent,  alkaloids. 
Wiry  root  .  .  .  2-13       "  2*43       "  " 
Stems  177       "  "  2-15       "  " 
From  these  results  but  one  conclusion  can  be  drawn,  and  that  is  that  the 
wiry  root,  as  was  shown  last  year,  is  richer  in  alkaloid  than  the  fancy  root,  and 
that  the  stems  contain  less  alkaloid  than  either  the  fancy  or  wiry  root,  but  still 
contain  considerable  alkaloid. 
THE  NEED  OF  AUTHORITATIVE  STANDARDS  FOR  ANTISEPTIC 
SURGICAL  DRESSINGS. 
By  Sbwakd  W.  Williams. 
This  paper  also  embodied  the  views  of  recognized  surgical  and  pharmaceuti- 
cal authorities  as  to  the  proper  basis  on  which  such  standards  should  be  estab- 
lished. The  prime  object  of  the  paper  was  to  obtain  a  decision  as  to  what  the 
label  of  antiseptic  surgical  dressings  should  bear.  It  was  decided,  after  some 
discussion,  that  the  label  should  state  what  percentage  of  the  weight  of  the 
finished  product  was  made  up  of  medicament,  and  also  how  many  grains  per 
square  yard  or  grammes  per  square  meter  this  percentage  represented.  It  was 
also  thought  well  to  state  what  strength  of  antiseptic  solution  would  be  obtained 
in  case  it  was  necessary  to  wet  the  dressing  with  water  sufficient  to  saturate  it. 
The  author  in  his  paper  asked  that  a  standard  weight  and  count  of  threads  in 
woven  fabrics  be  established.  No  action  was  taken  on  this  point  by  the  sec- 
tion, but  the  consideration  of  the  whole  subject  of  the  paper,  which  certainly 
needs  attention,  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  National  Formulary. 
A  REPORT  OF  THE  ANALYSIS  OF  27,000  PRESCRIPTIONS. 
By  Prof.  Patch. 
The  object  of  this  work  was  to  ascertain  the  variety  of  medicines  used  and 
the  extent  of  their  use.  The  prescriptions  were  from  all  sections  of  the  United 
States.  Prof.  Patch  had  expected  to  have  reported  on  50,000,  and  had 
mentioned  this  number  in  the  name  of  his  paper,  but  he  was  not  successful  in 
having  that  number  sent  to  him.  The  report  was  accompanied  by  an  extensive 
table  which  he  had  employed  as  a  record  in  his  work.  He  reported  a  large  use 
of  proprietary  articles.  Philadelphia  led  in  the  use  of  official  preparations. 
Of  the  classes  of  preparations  fluid  extracts  supplied  eight  per  cent,  of  the 
calls  and  pills  six  per  cent.  Other  classes  of  preparations  fell  below  these 
figures.  In  the  discussion  that  followed  the  paper,  Prof.  Hallberg  moved  that 
the  term  prescription  statistics  be  substituted  for  prescription  analysis,  or 
analysis  of  prescriptions,  in  order  to  prevent  a  misunderstanding  of  the  work. 
This  motion  was  carried,  as  was  also  another,  to  invite  State  associations  to 
