Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
Revising the Pharmacopoeia
Bv Frederic L HaSkin

first TO be recognized by the govern
ment, recognition coming through a
provision that it shall be the standard
in the dispensing of drugs in the Vafl-
Gus branches Of the government serV-
ice.
Some idea Of what a revision means
to some men may be gathered from the
fact that the chairman OF the com
rnittee for the 1900 revision declared ne
had offered thousands or dollars Iof
the change of only two words III tne
report of the committee. Inc tests
that are laid out for the ascertain
ment of the degree of purity OF given
LOT of drug form Is a matter of vital
importance to the dealer in these conf
modites Some insist that drugs snail
be chemically pure while others de-
clare they need only be pure medl-
cinally. Those who favor the latter IDEA
say that to guarantee absolute chern-
ical purity Is to add much cost 10 n
drug which would be just as good from
the physicians standpoint If medicln-
ally pure.
The history of the pharmacopoeia In
the United States begins early. The
first step for n national pharmacopoeia
was taken In 1917, and was Initiated Dy
Dr.. Lynn Spalding of New York. He
suggested that the United states De
divided into districts, and that each
copoeia of it's own, and that after this
was done all these be brought to-
gether and harmonized at national
conve ntlon composed OF accredited
delegates.
Some new drugs will be entered for
the first time in the 1910 revision, ana
some obsolete and obsolescent ones wlll
be dropped. Some names VIII De
changed, and the amount of the aver
age dose will be changed TO cores
pond with the changes of strength of
some of the standards. Last time aci-
dunn carbolicum, the prevailing techm-
cal name for carbolic acid was changed
to phenol the latter name more cor
rectly designating the drug. Chloral
became chlorolum hyratum. Patent
medicines will not be listed, as usual,
and preparations from secret formulas
will find no place, although many
physicians are anxious that some OF
these preparations should be included.
There has been conflict OF opinion be-
tween the physicians and the phar-
macists as to who should dominate the
convention. The pharmacists claim
that they know more about drugs than
the physician, that II is practically their
whole life study, while with the physl-
clan Il Is but one of the many phases
of his work The physician answers
that he is responsible to his patient
when medicine is administered upon
his prescription. and that therefore
his profession ought TO dominate the
convention. At least one medical
Journal expects to see the pharma-
clsts in control unless the physicians
bestir themselves and secure proper
recognition.
The great need of standardized drugs
is shown by the unusual prevalence of
adulterants IN those which are i'm
hDu
watchout at the various custom houses
for years. especially since the pure
food and drug act was passed. Some
times the importers are compelled To
deport consignments, and later they
will turn up elsewhere, Often they are
reimported through another port
where entry IS easier. An instance OF
this may be cited which shows not
only the tricks of the trade but the
resourceful watchfulness of the au-
thorlties. A consignment of belladonna
was received. Upon examination it was
found by the custom officials and the
drug inspectors to be adulterated with
poke root and scopola. 1t was ordered
deported. Later some belladonna
showed up in the drug stores which
was similarly adulterated. 1t was
found TO contain exactly the same
amount OF poke root. This might hap
pen and still give no definite proof
that II was part Of the deported ship
ment: but when II was found that II
had also the same percentage Of SEQ
pola as the deported consignment, 1t
was n clear clew. and the inspectors
traced it back and found their con-
clusons true in every particular. In
another case n wholesale druggist re-
ceived a shipment of five tons OF olive
pits. The inspection service wanted to
know what they were for and was
told that they were to serve as filler
for chicken food. The inspectors knew
that manufacturing druggists made no
chicken food and his drugs were
watched when they got into the mar
ket. They were found to be adulterated
with olive pits.
The more highly poisonous drug
the higher its price and the greater
the consequent temptation 10 adultera-
ton. 1t is said that the foreign gath
erers of raw drugs are absolutely IN
different to the dangers to which their
dishonesty may expose the public, and
that they will go even to the length or
complete substitution when opportunity
affords.
Tonorrow-rho Corporation Tax.