HYDRAS Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry Hydras, sold by John Wyeth and Brother, Philadelphia, is one of the many proprietary, so-called “uterine tonics.” It is said to contain “Cramp Bark, Helonias Root, Hydrastis, Scutellaria, Dogwood and Aromatics,” but as the amounts of the several ingredients are not given the statement regarding its composition is valueless. The label declares the presence of 24 per cent. alcohol. The name “Hydras,” taken in connection with the statement of composition, would suggest that hydrastis (golden-seal) is an important constituent. The report of the Chemical Laboratory of the American Medical Association, however, indicates that hydrastis is present in unimportant amounts: “The hydrastin content of Hydras was determined by extraction with immiscible solvents (_Pharm. Review_, May, 1908, p. 132). Twenty-five c.c. was found to yield an alkaloid residue of 0.0160 gm. The preparation contains, therefore, not more than 0.064 gm. ‘hydrastin’ per 100 c.c. Inasmuch as hydrastis is required to contain about 2.5 per cent. ‘hydrastin,’ hydras contains an equivalent of not more than 2.56 gm. hydrastis (golden seal) in 100 c.c. and the stated dose of Hydras--one dessertspoonful (8 c.c.)--represents not more than 0.2 gm. or 1/10 of the U. S. P. average dose of hydrastis.” The label of a recently purchased bottle of Hydras bears the following recommendations for its use: “Indicated in treatment of Dysmenorrhea, Menorrhagia Anti-Abortive, with anodyne and tonic properties.” “For dysmenorrhea, suppressed menses, etc., a dessertspoonful three times daily, before or after meals.” “To relieve pain due to uterine disorders, a dessertspoonful every three hours, or increased to a tablespoonful, at the discretion of the attending physician.” A circular wrapped around the bottle declares that Hydras is: “A valuable preparation to the physician in the treatment of dysmenorrhea, colic, cramps, spasm, palpitation incident to pregnancy, and the various pains resulting from diseases of the female sexual organs.” It is further claimed that: “In the dysmenorrhea of young girls due to some mechanical difficulty, as anteflexion or of a congestive character, of suppressed menses from exposure to cold and other causes of a similar character, Hydras will prove efficient and can be administered freely without danger.”