The British Pharmacopoeia and its critics / by Professor Attfield.
- John Attfield
- Date:
- 1885
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The British Pharmacopoeia and its critics / by Professor Attfield. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
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![medical corporations has desired the restoration ot calamine to the Pharmacopoeia. There may be some temporary difficulty in getting an article having the desired characters, but after demand will probably come supply. Calx Sulphurata.—E. Davies says this article should be named calcii sulphidum. The latter name is already given in the Pharmacopoeia as a synonym. The subject has been discussed over and over again and is scarcely worthy of further con- sideration. The Pharmacopoeia follows the lead of the majority of writers. C itaplasmata.—Martin says he has never prepared a poultice for anyone outside his own household ; append them, he says, to a manual on nursing, they encumber the pages of a book intended as a guide to pharmacists. But to some pharmacists the in- structions may not be unwelcome. And he forgets that the book is also intended as a guide to medical nun and through them to nurses and others. Cera Flava.—In B.P., 1807, the melting point of wax was “ not under 140°,” now it “melts at 146° F.” Abraham sajs the old standard was correct lor English wax. That maybe, but his own four home- prepared samples melted at 142, 144, 144 and 140 ; while E. Davies says that of fourteen samples free from paralHn only one melted so low as 145, and thinks 150° F should be the standard. Ruedorlf gives the melting point as a little above 140° F. Besides, the condition of good average commercial samples is what must officially be considered rather than that of special home gathered specimens. Chloroformum.—This is said to contain 1 percent, by weight of ethylic alcohol. Dott considers this should be 1 per 1000. That is much too low. The amount depends on the specific gravity of the pro- duced chloroform. One per cent, per volume would perhaps have been nearer the mark. But the specific gravity will be the best guide as to the quan- tity of alcohol, which should be added until the specific gravity is neither above nor below l-497. C/irysarobinum.—The writer has already dealt v ith some criticisms on chrysarobin. (Pharm Jour., [0], xvi., 458). Martindale says this is not “medullary matter,” as officially described. It is not medullary tissue, but it being yielded by medullary tissue (not the pith alone), by disorganization or ehemico-phy- siological degradation, it certainly is medullary matter. Critics have not quite rightly given the history of chrysarobin. They have omitted to say that it was Kemp who first published an analytical account of it. the present writer first showed its chrysophanic character, while Liebermann and Seidler showed that as it comes from the tree it is not mainly chrysophanic acid, as the writer believed, but potential chrysophanic acid, which by absorption of oxygen may become chrysophanic acid. Experi- ments on the wood of the tree would probably show the true paientage of the substance, resinous or otherwise; while therapeutic investigation of it as now used in medicine and of chrysophanic acid should be made with the object of deciding whether the definite body chrysophanic acid is not on the whole the best for therapeutic employment. Cinchonce Rubrce Cortex.—In view of the proved medicinal value of cinchonidine and the general alkaloidal character of this bark the contention by Umney that ot the amount of quinine and cincho- nidiue that is to be present only a tiace may be quinine cannot well- be maintained as a really “ serious ” state of things. Burnett’s complaint that in the assay the shaking with acid is “ rather tedious” is only less “serious.” Powell rightly thinks that the decoction and infusion should be dispensed “ almost clear.” Collodium Vesicans.—H. W. Jones’s ungenerous suggestion respecting “process and formula given without trial on the part of the compilers,” and Conroy’s statement that he finds “the quantity of pyroxylin is about three times too much,” are con- futed by the skill and honest candour of Umney, who says that “a further examination of the official process' proved that the pyroxylin of the Pharmaco- poeia would produce a suitable collodion if the in- structions for its preparation were strictly adhered to.” Martindale asks why his proportions of py- roxylin to blistering liquid have not been adhered to.' Tichborne’s researches of 1870 and 1862 have rather been consulted, and his recommendation to use for 1 pint, £ ounce, or more, has been followed. Creasotum.—A.E. Robinson thinks that an approxi- mate boiling point should have been mentioned. A reasonable suggestion, but samples vary, and the range of temperature during ebullition is very con- siderable, and the other characters and tests render this one almost valueless. Elaterinum and Elaterium are words dangerously alike, says Conroy. Will he suggest a remedy for any such danger I H. W. Jones regards the test for elaterium as evidence of “too much easy-chair work ” on the part of the compilers of the Pharma- copoeia. This test is by Fliiekiger and Hanbury, who by its means obtained 33‘6 per ceut. of elaterine from one London sample and 27'6 from Malta elaterium. The official limits are “ 25 per cent, or not less than 20 per cent.” Even were Mr. Jones’s unkind allegation true, which it is not, surely even experts may stand by or sit easily when Fliiekiger and Hanbury are operating. Emplastrum Belladonnce.—Stephenson, Umney, Borland, Maben and Conroy regret that this plaster is no longer green, as when made from an alcoholic extract ot the leaves; while Martindale disagrees, and says the old was always dirty and disliked by patients. Redwood says “wait, and your customers will soon become as accustomed to the brown as to the green.” Moss considers the new plaster a decided improvement. Ergota,— Millhouse thinks a test should have been inserted, but does not say what test. Ergotinum.—Abraham says the process has “ the very serious objection that it places the honest manu- facturer at a disadvantage by compelling him to adopt an extravagant process, whereas the object doubtless aimed at will not be attained because the retailer will not make by such a process.” The writer does not quite follow the argument. Is not honesty the best policy here ? Extractum Beloe Liquidum.—Conroy says the increase of spirit from 12£ to 18 or 19 per cent, is not enough, he would go to 25. Time will tell. Extractum Belladonnce Alcoholicum. — Conroy, Hornblower and Perry would chase residual spirit from the marc not by “water” but spirit, and so avoid choking the percolator. Stoddart has taught otherwise respecting such drugs; but the point is evidently worthy of further investigation. Botham says the proportion of spirit ordered does not re- move all extractive matter, but admits it mav](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22459248_0007.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
