New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-13
CURIOUS TESTS FOR DRUGS
TRYING THEM ON DOGS AND olhT''
ANIMALS
pEcIsTERING A FROGS PUI.SE-JUDGiNG BY THE
COLOR OF ROSTERS COMB.

expectcd effect from medicine prescribed TOT d
na,i.nt has thus been led to suspect the
o,ronctb of the drug on which he has relied. oh
the supposition that il possessed a given purity
and quality he would specify such ana Su'"
an amount as "A dose. But if he knew mat the
drug in question was of inferior quahty' ne
would either increase the amount or use so"ie-
thing else The honesty of the retail Druggist
who dled 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 n physician
the druggist would remain ignorant of the de
ncicncies Of his stock.
It is to be assumed that when a physician in
dicates with the precise amount or each
of the different ingredients that shall enter into
a compound which he wants his patient to
take ana then dictates the exact interval at
which the dose is t. be administered, the ele-
mcnt Of mathematics has formed an important
part of his treatment Of the And If the
strength of any one Of the drugs used should be
only one half OF one quarter az great as he an
ticipated. ana had right 10 anticipate, the
result would probably BE- disappointing. The life
Of a patient, and perhaps the reputation Of the
practitioner, might be lost through lack of suf-
hcicnt virtue in the means employed for over
coming disease Yet the person who was really
to blame the jobber who had mnocently or
knowingly sold inferior drugs to the pharmacist
who flied the prescription, would not only es-
cape punishment, but also remain in ignorance
Of the consequences of the transaction
PURITY AND STRENGTH TRIED
For this and other reasons it is customary
with most Of the houses which manufacture
drugs on large scale for the market 10 insti-
tutc tests Of purity and strength for their own
benefit They wish, before Offering an article
for sale. to be assured az TO it's qualities. II a
drug house were to sell inferior stuff frequently
the fact would soon become known in a general
way, even If each shortening was not detected
In the long run its business would suffer For
manufacturing concern that has a scrupulous
regard for its own reputation, therefore, it is
necessary that tests be made Another good
reason for conducting such Investigations is that
the house might be guided thereby in the choice
. Of sources from which it obtained its raw ma
tcral
The means employed for asCcrtaining the
strength OF drug are usually of a chemical
nature Certain other substances are added In
carefully adjusted proportions and the reactions
which ensuo reveal to the skful chemist the
quality Of the stun under examination
different and unique plan. however is
pursued by one large house in this country. 1t
administers small! doses of the drugs to living
beings and watches the effect II these sub
stances could be given to human subjects per
haps tho test would be more satisfactory in some
respects But there are obvious objections TO
such procedure. Few people would like to be
Experimental upon with drugs which were
poisonous. Hence 1t has occurred TO the firm
which uses the new method to try their stuff on
the lower animals
For instance. If dgtalIs is 10 be tested 1t is
tried on a frog. small quantity having been
administered, an instrument which registers the
action OF the heart is so attached TO the frog as
to feel the creatures pulse. This machine is
called kymograph. II the frogs pulse is re-
corded both before and after taking" it will be
possible 10 ascertain how much the digtalls has
stimulated the heart II at all II no effect is
observed II is SAFE to say that the drug is worth
less. II a certain amount yields well defined re-
suits IT Is then possible to calculate the precise
strength of the drug The waves In the line
traced by the kymograph on q moving strip of
paper will show, by an increase in frequency or
height any extraneous influence at work ON the
heart.
HAsHEESH FOR A DOG
Hashecsh is usually tried on "A dog II the
drug Is worthless the dog remains sober and
active. But If It is potent It will tangIe his
feet for him and parayze him temporarily He
drops off into nap. and perhaps has the same
delightful visions which are supposed to result
from mans indulgence In Canabis Indica
special degree Of doubt attaches to this drug
product which possesses the desired qualities
is derived only from unfertilized female bios
SONS Of the Indian hemp II fortified female
is not the same. A uncturc may be obtained