Some observations and suggestions relating to the chemistry of the British Pharmacopoeia / by Frederick B. Power.

  • Power, Frederick B. (Frederick Belding), 1853-1927.
Date:
[1900]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Some observations and suggestions relating to the chemistry of the British Pharmacopoeia / by Frederick B. Power. 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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    RELATING TO THE CHEMISTRY OF THE BRITISH PH ARM ACOPCEI A* BY FREDERICK B. POWER, Ph.D. HE appearance of a new national Pharmacopoeia is always an event of considerable interest, for it may reasonably be assumed that it will reflect, so far as is practicable in a work of that character, the progress in the sciences relating to pharmacy and medicine during the period that has elapsed since its last preceding revision. The importance of a new edition of such a work is manifest when it is considered how large a circle it concerns, inasmuch as it is designed to represent a standard to which medical men, pharmacists, public analysts, and chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturers are expected to conform. It is therefore natural, and, indeed, desirable, that the appearance of a new national Pharmacopceia should be attended by some expressions of opinion on the part of those who are interested in it, and whose work, to a greater or less extent, is affected by it ; for even a work that is issued By Authority can hardly be expected to be perfectly free from errors and defects, however much care may have been bestowed on its compilation. The comments that immediately follow the publication of such a work, in so far as they represent only first impressions, are apt to be somewhat superficial in their character, and therefore as likely to err in bestowing unqualified praise as in the severity of the criticisms. On the other hand, there are also from time to time some facts brought to notice which possess positive and lasting value, and are therefore worthy of careful consideration. These may relate either to actual errors in the text, to the impracticability of particular requirements, or to suggestions for further improvements in descriptions or processes. The Committee of Revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia have long recognised the value of such observations or criticisms, and have taken pains to collate them from every available source during the intervals of the last two revisions, or for a period of nearly twenty years. Under the title, “ Digest of Criticisms,” they have been published and issued gratuitously by the Committee to the medical and pharmaceutical societies and colleges immediately concerned, and to all those, either at home or abroad, who were supposed to be specially interested in the work. It will be evident that by the adoption of this plan considerable aid is given to those upon whom the preparation of a subsequent edition of the United States Pharmacopceia depends, even though but a comparatively small part of the collected material may be eventually utilised. Although the chemistry of the British Pharmacopceia has already received some consideration at the hands of the critics,f the published papers and discussions relating thereto have been somewhat fragmentary, and no attempt appears to have been made to subject it to a more complete and systematic review. * Read before the British Pharmaceutical Conference, London, July, 1900. t ‘Year Book of Pharmacy,’ 1898, pp. 452, 456, 467; Pharmaceutical Journal, 1898, 60, p. 394, 61, pp. 666, 684 ; Chemist and Dmcggist, 1898, 52, p. 674, 53, p. 348 ; British and Colonial Druggist, 1898, 33, p. 515 34, pp. 107, 515, 719 ; 1899, 35, p. 160.