Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-11-09

even II each Shortcomings was not de-
tected. In the long run Its business
would suffer, For manutacturing
concern that has n scrupulous regard
for its own reputation. therefore. Il is
necessary that tests be made Another
good reason for conducting such inveS-
LEGATIONS is that the house might be
guided thereby in the choice OF sources
from which 1t obtained its raw ma
terial.
The means employed for ascertain
ing the strength OF drug are usually
OF \ chemical nature, Certain other
substances are added in carefully adj
justed proportions and the reactions
which ensue reveal to the skillful
chemist the quality OF the stun under
examination.
\ different and n unique plan, how
ever, Is pursued by one large house in
this country, 1t administers small
doses Of the drugs to living beings and
watches the effect, If these substances
could be given to human subjects per-
haps the test would be more satisiac-
tory in some respects. But there are
obvious objections to such procedure
Few people would like to he expert
mented upon with drugs which are
poisonous, Hence II has occurred 20
the firm which uses the new method
to try their stun on the lower animals
For instance, II digitalis is to be test
40 10 tai a fr.Ny A N,kh
tity having been administered, an In
strument which registers tho action of
the heart is SO attached to the frog
MS to feel the creatures pulse, This
machine is called kymograph. If the
frogs pulse is recorded both before
and after taking 1t will be possible to
ascertain how much the digitalis has
stimulated the heart, II at all. III no
effect is observed 1t is safe to say that
the drug Is worthless, II certain
amount yields well-defined results II is
then possible to calculate the precise
strength Of the drug. The waves In
the line traced by the kymograph on a
moving strip of paper will show, by an
increase In frequency or height, any
eXtraneous influence at work on the
heart
Hashcesh Is usually tried ON n dog
II the drug Is worthless. the dog re-
mains sober and active. But Ii IL Is
potent, it will tangle his feet for him
and paralyze him temporarily. He
drops off into nap, and perhaps has
the same delightful visions which are
supposed to result from mans indul-
gence In Canabis mdica. A special de-
gree of doubt attaches to this drug. A
product which possesses the desired
qualities Is derived only from unferti-
lized female blossoms OF the Indian
hemp. If fertilizcd female blossoms or
male blossoms be used, the effect Is
not the same. A tincture may be OBJ
tanned which looks and tastes like he
genuine article but unless II Ia made
from the right class of flowers II Is
valueless.
The test made for ergot is an odd
one. The drug Is given To rooster,
but instead OF being placed In his
stomach 1t Is injected into his comb,
If 1t has the proper quality. 1t will dis
color the comb At first the hue pro
duced Is blue, but this eventually turns
to black II the drug Is sufficiently pow
erful. The strength of the sample is
estimated from the precise shade Of
color developed.
A dozen or more different animals
are thus utilized, One responds readily
to one drug, and another To another.
The frogs employed are very small
ones. The house In question once had
lot OF frogs which were transported
hundreds OF miles, but were rejected
because too large.
When this subject is preached to
other manufacturers of drugs they
smile in n long-suffering manner
MS II greatly bored They have heard
Of 1t many times before. While pro-
fessional courtesy restraints them from
INDUCING In criticism, they are appar-
emily well satisfied with their own
methods OF inquiry These, In most
cases. are prescribed in standard
work which is kept in all pharmacies
in this Countrywide United States
pharmacopoeia." rhe tests are
chemical in character, and, within GER
tain limits. enable any enlightened
druggist to judge for himself whether
he Is getting his moneys worth or MOI
when buying from wholesale dealers.
On the other hand, II Is alleged by
the firm which adopted the new sys-
TEN OF testing that chemical analysis
will fail to afford the desired informa
ton, with number Of drugs. For In
stance. strophanthus and digitalis are
substances whose active principles are
well known; but these cannot be Az
sayed chemically, 1t is asserted, be-
cause the glucosides to which they owe
their activity are OF such delicate
structure that they decompose In pro-
cess OF extraction, and so prevent
cumulative estimation. Ergot de-
mands "physiologic testing" because.
notwithstanding the investigation
which has been layishcd upon 1t by
scientists, no one has yet succeeded In