^ptembe/iQog1' }  American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  439 
drugs  examined  during  the  last  year  in  their  laboratory.  As  a  whole, 
the  preparations  showed  up  very  well ;  only  in  a  comparatively  few 
cases  were  they  compelled  to  reject  the  shipments  or  samples 
submitted. 
Factors  Relating  to  the  Standardization  of  Digitalis. 
By  Worth  Hale. 
In  concluding  an  article  dealing  with  the  difficulties  of  standard- 
izing digitalis  and  its  preparations  the  author  says : 
It  would  seem  very  desirable  if  the  revisers  of  the  next  edition  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia  could  adopt  some  method  and  some  definite  unit 
to  which  all  digitalis  preparations  would  conform.  Such  tests  might 
be  made  only  for  the  crude  drug ;  but  it  would  seem  advisable  until 
we  know  more  definitely  about  the  keeping  qualities  of  the  various 
preparations  that  they  also  be  standardized,  and  if  deterioration 
were  discovered  in  these  through  improper  storage  or  otherwise,  that 
they  be  withdrawn  from  the  market. 
The  problem  of  carrying  out  such  tests  as  should  be  decided 
upon  is  somewhat  difficult  since  this  would  probably  require  some 
special  knowledge  of  animal  experimentation.  Manufacturers  would 
necessarily  need  to  make  such  tests,  as  many  already  are  doing, 
before  placing  their  preparations  upon  the  market.  Further  control 
might  be  delegated  to  the  laboratories  of  the  various  State  Boards 
of  Public  Health,  to  municipal  laboratories,  and  finally  the  general 
control  might  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Federal  Government 
which  should  have  general  supervision  of  such  standardization  and 
which  could  best  unify  and  make  effective  these  various  agencies  for 
securing  uniform  and  stable  digitalis  preparations. 
Alcohol  and  Alcoholic  Beverages  in  the  U.S. P. 
By  M.  I.  Wilbert. 
The  author  gives  the  following  reasons  why  brandy,  whiskey, 
and  red  wine  at  least  should  be  deleted  from  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
1.  They  are  not  distinctly  valuable  medicinal  agents. 
2.  They  are  not  necessary  in  the  production  of  official  medicinal 
preparations. 
3.  The  sale  of  alcohol,  brandy,  whiskey,  and  wine  is  restricted  by 
Federal  and  State  laws  to  dealers  in  alcoholic  beverages,  and  cannot 
be  engaged  in,  legally,  by  other  than  a  licensed  vendor. 
