Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-23
Curious TESTS FOR DRUGS.
TryIng Them on Dogs and other
Animals.

Many a physician. who has failed 10 get
the expected effect from medicine pre-
scribed for a patient has thus been led
TO suspect the strength of the drug on
which he has relied. on the supposiuon
that it possessed a given purity and
quality he would specify such and such
an amount as dose. But if he knew
that the drug in question was of inferior
quality he would either increase the
amount, or use something else. The hon
esty of the retail druggist who filled
the prescription might be entirely be-
yond doubt. Probably he was imposed
upon In making his purchases from
wholesale dealers. And until complaint
was made by a physician the druggist
would remain ignorant of the deficiencies
of his stock.
1t is to be assumed that when a physi-
clan indicates with care the precise
amount Of each OF the different ingre-
dents that shall enter into compound
which he wants his patient 20 take,
and then dictates the exact interval nc
which the dose is 10 be administered,
the element of mathematics has formed
an important part OF his treatment of the
case. And If the strength Of any one OF
the drugs used should be only one half
or one quarter as great as he anticipated,
and had a right 10 anticipate, the result
would probably be Disappointing The
life of a patient, and perhaps the repu~
tation Of the practitioner might be lost
through lack OF sufficient virtue IN Inc
means employed for overcoming disease.
Yet the person who was really 10 blame,
the jobber who had innocently or know
ingly sold inferior drugs TO the pharma-
cist who filed the prescription, would
not only escape punishment, but also re-
main in ignorance Of the consequences
of the transaction.
PURITY AND STRENGTH TRIED.
For this and other reasons II is custo-
mary with most OF the houses which
manufacture drugs on a large scale for
the market TO institute tests OF purity
and strength for their own benefit They
wish. before Offering an article for sale,
10 be assured as 10 its qualities. II a
drug-house were 20 sell inferior stuff fire.
ouently the fact would soon become
known in a general way, even II each
shortcoming was not detected. In the
long run its business would suffer For
manufacturing concern that has scru-
pulous regard for its own reputation,
therefore 1t is necessary that tests be
made. Another good reason for conduct
ing such Investigations is that the house
might be guided thereby in the choice OF
sources from which it obtained its raw
material.
The means employed or ascertaining
the strength Of a drug are usually Of "a
chemical nature. Certain other substances
are added in carefully adjusted proper
tions. and the reactions which ensue re-
veal to the skilful chemist the quality OF
the stuff under examination
A different and a unique plan, however,
IS pursued by one large house IN this
country. 1t administers small doses OF
the drugs 10 living beings and watches
the effect. II these substances could be
given 10 human subjects perhaps the test
would be more satisfactory In some re-
spects. But there are obvious objections
10 such "a procedure, Few people would
like 20 be experimental upon with drugs
which were poisonous. Hence IL has oc-
Cured TO the firm which uses the new
method 10 try their stun on the lower
animals.
For instance. II digitaus IS 10 be tested.
II Is tried on a frog. a small quantity
having been administered, an instrument
which registers the action Of the heart
IS 50 attached 20 the frog as 10 feel the
creatures pulse. This machine Is called
a kymOgraph II the frogs pulse Is re-
corded both before and after taking
II will be possible 20 ascertain how much
the digitalis has stimulated the heart.
II at all. II no effect is observed II IS
safe 10 say that the drug is worthless.
II a certain amount yields well defined
results II is then possible 10 calculate
the precise strength OF the drug The
waves I'm the line traced by the kymO-
graph on a moving strip OF paper viii
show. BY an increase I'm frequency or
height, any extraneous influence al work
on the heart.
HASHEESH FOR A DOG.
Hasheesh is usually tried on a dog II
the drug Is worthless, the dog remains
sober and active. But II II Is potent. IL
VIII tangle his feet for him and paralyze
him temporarily. He drops of into a
nap. and perhaps has the same delightful
visions which are supposed TO result from
mans indulgence i'm Canabis Indica. A
special degree Of doubt attaches 20 this
drug. A product which possesses the de-
sired qualities Is derived only from un-
fortified female blossoms Of the Indian
hemp. II fortified female blossoms, or
male blossoms. be used. the effect Is not
the same. A tincture may be obtained
which looks and tastes like the genuine
article, but unless IL Is made from the
right class OF flowers II IL yalueless.
The test made for ergot Is an odd one.
The drug Is given 20 a rooster. but in
stead OF being placed In his stomach. Il
Is injected into his comb. If IL has the
proper quality. It will dscolor the comb.
AT first the hue produced Is blue, bat