Volume 1

The extra pharmacopœia of Martindale and Westcott.

  • Martindale, William, 1840-1902.
Date:
1928-1929
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The extra pharmacopœia of Martindale and Westcott. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. Since the issue of the last edition of Volume I. of The Extra Pharmacopceia, in September 1924, new editions of several National Pharmacopoeias have appeared to which reference has been made in revising existing annotations in our pages. We may mention, for example, the Pharmacopoeia of the United States, tenth decennial revision, 1926 ; the Deutsches Arznei- buch, sixth edition, 1926 ; the Codex Medicamentarius Gallicus (Pharmacopde Frangaise) Nouveau Supplement, 1926 ; the Nederlandsche Pharmacopee, fifth edition, 1926; and the Pharmacopoea Svectca, tenth edition, 1926. References in the book will also be found to the Agreements made at the Second International Conference for Unification of Formulae, held at Brussels, 1925, and the Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Problems in Tropical America, 1924. Finally we record our indebtedness to that ever-in creasing guide to our study and laboratory work, the leading scientific periodicals ; these we endeavour to follow assiduously, as published. We are convinced, from a study of the doses, composition, and methods of preparation of medicamenta in various countries, that more complete International Unification is requisite to prevent errors in interpreting the wishes of a prescriber. To take a simple case, as between the English-speaking races— a medical journal in this country prints an abstract of a paper from an American journal. The medicaments recommended may be of the U.S.P. standard or a semi-official preparation in that country—readily comprehended in the U.S.A.—but it by no means follows that the pharmacist here has the U.S.P. or the semi-official work to consult, or, indeed, has even the cutting from the English journal to assist him in giving a safe interpretation of the requirements. Similar difficulties arise no doubt conversely, i.e., the prescription of a British medical man may present difficulties in the pharmacy abroad. Note, for example, that Solutions of Morphine Hydrochloride are respectively 1, 2, and 3% in the B.P. ’14, the French Codex and the Swedish Pharmacopoeia. Again, Phosphorus Solutus P.G. VI. is 0*5% strength, while Oleum Phosphoratum of the B.P. and P. Svec. X. is 1%. Dover’s Powder in Ph. Ned. is named Pulv. OpiiCo., but Pulv. OpiiCo. B.P. differs entirely in constituents. Many other instances of confusiou could be cited. We dwell upon these points at the outset to indicate the importance of defining, as we endeavour to do, International differences in strengths and standards of single drugs and chemicals and of com¬ pounded medicines. For References concerning recent observations of various Governments on International Unification vide F.I. in our List of Abbreviations.