The chief claims for its therapeutic value are based on the radium content, yet the discrepancies and contradictions, regarding this are serious. In connection with the reconsideration of this product the agent presented a certificate of chemical examination by the Lederle Laboratories in which the following statement was made as to the radio-activity: “Examination shows the preparation to possess slight radioactivity, corresponding in activity to less than 1-10,000 of 1 milligram of radium bromid per ampule. According to the sworn statement of Dr. A. de Szendeffy, the originator of Dioradin, the preparation contains 10 drops of radium chlorid solution (1 milligram in 100 cubic centimeters of water) in 100 cubic centimeters of the preparation. This would correspond to 5-1,000 milligram of radium chlorid in 100 cubic centimeters, or about 1-20,000 of 1 milligram per ampule.” A cursory reading of this paragraph gives the impression that Dioradin possesses fully the amount of radio-activity claimed by its originator, Dr. A. de Szendeffy. This impression is greatly strengthened by the concluding paragraph of the Lederle report, which says: “In conclusion, our examination shows that the preparation submitted to us as Dioradin possesses radio-activity, and contains a fixed oil (apparently expressed oil of almond), iodoform, menthol and ether, thus confirming the sworn statement of Dr. A. de Szendeffy in regard to the composition of this product.” On inquiry as to the method used by the Lederle Laboratories, in determining radio-activity the agent submitted a further statement of the Lederle Laboratories which describes the gamma ray test by which the determination was made and a radium value equivalent to 0.000041 mg. of radium bromid per capsule was obtained. The report then says: “The variations of the single measurements from the mean in the case of the natural leak and the leak with the Dioradin near were so large that we did not feel justified in assigning much accuracy to the figure, 0.000041, but stated that the amount of radium per capsule could not be greater than 0.0001 mg., with the possibility of there being a much smaller amount present.” It is evident that the wording of the reports of the Lederle Laboratories is liable to give the impression that their examination confirms the claims made for Dioradin. It is further evident from these reports that the amount of radio-active matter has not been definitely ascertained but that it is at the best very small. The unreliability of the claims for radium content of Dioradin was recently shown by Buechner,[43] who found a specimen obtained from an apothecary to contain but 1-1,000 of the amount claimed. [43] Buechner: Pharm. Weekblad, March 2, 1912, p. 161. VOLATILE AND NON-VOLATILE MATTER