NOTES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EXACT PREPARATION OF TINCTURE OF DIGITALIS AND ON THE NUMBER OF PIGEONS IN THE PIGEON-EMESIS METHOD

¹ From the Department of Pharmacology, Stanford University School of Medicine, San Francisco, Calif.

1. The minimum emetic dose (M.Em.D.) in pigeons of 3 tinctures of digitalis from the same leaves was found to vary with the time of percolation in the U. S. P., method of preparation. Accordingly, attention to details in the method of preparation appears desirable for uniformity of potency.

2. The majority of pigeons showing emesis, in establishing the M.Em.D., of tinctures of digitalis, occurred in groups of from 3 to 23 pigeons, although the per cent majority differed with different groups. Accordingly, the smallest group of pigeons used gave satisfactory results, but there can be no objection, as the results are no worse, if more pigeons are used.