The Council reaffirms its former action with regard to Protonuclein. The objections made to Protonuclein apply with equal force to Protonuclein Beta. In view of the lack of evidence, the claims for Protonuclein Beta are unwarranted and the product is ineligible to N. N. R. on account of noncompliance with Rules 1, 6 and 8.--(_From The Journal A. M. A., Jan. 1, 1916._) HYDROPSIN Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry The Council has adopted the following report and authorized its publication. W. A. Puckner, Secretary. Hydropsin is marketed by the Ernst Bischoff Company, Inc., New York. Its composition is thus described: “Hydropsin is the standardized dialysate of Digitalis purpurea, Betula alba, Scilla maritima, Juniperis communis, and Herniaria glabra; or, stated otherwise, it is the juice of these drugs, dialyzed and physiologically standardized.” “Each fluid dram represents Digitalysatum 7 gtts., and 2 gtts. each of the dialysates of Betula, Herniaria, Juniper and Scilla.” The composition of Hydropsin must be considered essentially secret since the amounts of the several constituent drugs in a given amount of “dialysate” are not disclosed. The active principle of juniper is a volatile oil which is practically insoluble in water; it is difficult to believe that the “juice” of juniper submitted to dialysis could contain any material amount of the active constituent. No information is given as to the method used whereby the several dialysates are “physiologically standardized.” It therefore remains to be proved that the manufacturer of Hydropsin possesses any method whereby the dialysates of juniper (Juniperis communis), birch (Betula alba, the common European birch) and knot weed (Herniaria glabra) are so standardized. The claim is made that: “Herniaria has long been recognized as one of the most valuable drugs in the treatment of dropsical affections due to cardiac impairment.” On the contrary, Herniaria belongs to that large class of drugs which have been tried, found wanting and abandoned. It is a very old remedy, and the claims made for it are an inheritance from the early herbalists, with whom it was very popular. According to King’s American Dispensatory, it was “principally employed to cure _hernia_ (hence its name) and to increase the flow of urine. It was also said to increase the flow of bile.... Internally and externally, it was praised in _snake-bites_, and the powdered plant was employed to kill maggots on unhealthy _sores_ of horses. It was reputed to ‘crush’ and expel calculi from the kidneys and bladder....” The Ernst Bischoff Company says that: