Why can we hope that the addition of serum or any solution of protein will render secretin more stable? In the intact man or animal under normal conditions of digestion, secretin reaches the pancreas by way of the blood, that is, it is in solution in blood. Does that fact render the secretin stable? By no means. The reader is familiar with the fact that the response of the pancreas to a single intravenous administration of secretin is very transitory (5-15 min.). The cessation of activity is due, not to fatigue of the pancreas, as a second injection of secretin gives a prompt response of pancreatic secretion, but to the disappearance of active secretin from the blood. In fact, secretin left in the test tube or in the bottle remains active over a much longer period of time than when introduced into the blood stream. IV. _Beveridge’s Secretin Given by Mouth to the Intact Animal Has No Specific Action on the Pancreas._--Active secretin prepared according to the method of Beveridge was fed on an empty stomach to a small dog (5 kilo) with permanent fistula of one of the pancreatic ducts. On control days we gave the dog (_a_) equal quantities of n/10 HCl, and (_b_) bread and milk. The Beveridge secretin was prepared with 0.3 per cent. HCl and the addition of 0.2 per cent. serum. The results may be stated by the following summary: GIVING BEVERIDGE’S SECRETIN BY MOUTH ================================================================ Secretin of the Number of Pancreas for Three Material Fed Tests Hours Following the Feeding 150 c.c. Beveridge Secretin 6 10.2 c.c. 150 c.c. n/10 HCl 5 22.7 c.c. Bread soaked in milk 4 6.6 c.c. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Control experiments with pure hydrochloric acid show that the secretion of pancreatic juice following the introduction of Beveridge’s secretin into the stomach is due to the acid factor and the protein content. CONCLUSIONS The patented secretin of Beveridge is rendered inactive by gastric juice, is without effect when given by mouth, and exhibits no greater stability or keeping qualities than the secretin prepared according to Bayliss and Starling. It has no merit as a therapeutic agent. It should under no conditions be administered intravenously in man, as it contains deleterious protein split products and living bacteria.--(_From The Journal A. M. A., Jan. 12, 1918._) NEED FOR PATENT LAW REVISION Report of the Committee on Patent-Law Revision of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry of the American Medical Association