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desirable to attempt to separate the vitamine from the fuller's earth and obtain it in a stable free form. The experiments along this line have so far resulted in the isolation of the vitamine in a physiologically active condition, but not in a pure and stable form. Analyses have clearly indicated the character of the vitamine compound. There appears to be no doubt that the active substance is an isomer of the purine base known for some time as adenine.

Since it was found that fuller's earth possesses this valuable property, it appeared desirable to ascertain if some substance which could be easily removed and therefore leave behind the pure vitamine might not exert a similar action. Experiments were consequently made with a number of resins capable of yielding colloidal precipitates and it was found that mastic was the most suitable of the several resins tested. With the aid of mastic, active preparations of vitamine have been prepared from brewers' yeast and forwarded to Spartanburg for further concentration.

Some time has been spent on experiments to determine the nature of the supposed mother substance with which vitamine is thought to be combined in the natural state. These experiments have included extraction of the freshly pressed yeast with alcohol and salt solutions and the digestion of the fresh yeast with chloroform in presence of solid calcium carbonate. The solutions obtained in this way were subjected to dialysis, the material left behind in the collodion sacks, coagulated, the coagulant filtered off and hydrolyzed with dilute acid, and the resulting products tested for the presence of vitamine. These experiments have not yielded results from which positive conclusions could be drawn.

A report covering a part of this work was published in the Public Health Reports and issued as Reprint No. 325.

In addition to the above-mentioned investigations large quantities of concentrated yeast products have been prepared. These have included 917 pounds of dried yeast, about 50 pounds of vitamine activated fuller's earth prepared by the process described above and by a modification of that process, various mastic preparations, and products obtained in the course of the experiments on the mother substance of vitamine.

Toxicity of heavy metals. The investigation of the toxicity of the lactates and thioglycolates of an extensive series of heavy metals, which, as mentioned in the last annual report, had been under way for some time, was brought to a close in October. The results have been collected and prepared for publication and furnish interesting and useful data on the comparative toxicity of heavy metals. Of the large number of compounds tested on animals infected with trypanosomes, antimony potassium lactate alone was found to be effective, and in this case no striking advantage over other previously investigated antimony salts was noted.

Standardization of drugs.-By means of the chemical standard, beta-iminazolylethylamine, recently proposed for determining the strength of pituitary extracts, and now adopted for the United States Pharmacopoeia, comparative studies of extracts obtained from a variety of mammals have been made. The pituitary bodies of cattle, horses, hogs, cats, dogs, and rabbits were used and it was found that they differed only in their quantitative effects and not qualitatively. The extracts from cats, dogs, and hogs were more active than those

from the other animals. This data should be of value to the manufacturers of this product. In addition an examination was made of recently manufactured commerical preparations obtained from those firms whose products had been previously examined. A marked variation in the activity of the several preparations was again found. Toxicity of aluminium.-The studies referred to in the previous annual report undertaken to ascertain the toxicity of aluminium in animals were concluded and the data prepared for publication in bulletin form.

Examination of life-saving device. In conjunction with Surgeon Schereschewsky an examination was made of the life-saving device called the "lung-motor." This device was examined from a mechanical standpoint as to its usefulness in resuscitating the apparently drowned and the asphyxiated. It was found that in some respects the device is superior to manual methods in the resuscitation of the drowned, but it was not deemed sufficient to depend upon it entirely, its greatest field of usefulness being as a supplementary aid to manual methods.

Cocaine substitutes.-A study is now under way to determine the general effects and the proper classification of some of the more recently introduced cocaine substitutes. The determination of the toxicity of novocaine together with the investigation of its general systemic action was determined in animals. It was found that in large doses novocaine lowers the blood pressure markedly. The cause of the death in experimental animals from novocaine poisoning was found to be due largely to the depression of the respiration. Cardiac depression was also shown to be a contributory factor. From these findings novocaine should not be given in cases of low blood pressure or in myocardial weakness or respiratory disturbances. Novocaine was found to be relatively less toxic than cocaine under certain conditions, but under other conditions there is relatively little difference in the toxicity of cocaine and novocaine.

Digest of comments on United States Pharmacopoeia and on the National Formulary.-The preparation of material for the Digest of Comments has been continued, and during the last year Hygienic Laboratory Bulletin No. 105, including a compilation of the comments for the calendar year ending December 31, 1914, was published. The material for an additional volume for the year ending December 31, 1915, is now in the course of preparation.

Pharmacopoeia of the United States and the National Formulary.— The cooperative work in connection with the revision of the Pharmacopoeia of the United States and the National Formulary has been continued during the year. Both of these books were issued soon after the close of the fiscal year. In compliance with the precedent established in connection with the eighth decennial revision of the Pharmacopoeia of the United States there has been prepared in this division and submitted for publication an epitome of the changes in the Pharmacopoeia and the National Formulary. The bulletin will contain information not otherwise available and should be of practical interest to all who are in any way compelled to use or to refer to the legal standards for drugs and medicines either from a medical or legal point of view.

1 Hygienic Laboratory Bulletin No. 107,

Council on pharmacy and chemistry.-The cooperative work in connection with the council on pharmacy and chemistry of the American Medical Association has been continued, and members of the division have assisted in the compilation and revision of the book "New and Nonofficial Remedies," a revised edition of which was published in January, 1916, in the revision of the list of Useful Drugs, and in the compilation of an epitome of the Pharmacopoeia and the National Formulary.

Digest of laws and regulations relating to poisons and habit-forming drugs.-A compilation of the laws and regulations relating to the sale, use, and manufacture of poisons and habit-forming drugs, enacted during 1914 and 1915, now in force in the United States, was prepared and, with critical comments in the form of an introduction, was published in the Public Health Reports and subsequently issued as Reprint No. 330. This reprint reproduces laws and regulations enacted in 48 of the States, Territories, and possessions of the United States. A discussion of recent legislation designed to restrict the use of narcotic drugs was published in the Reports and issued as Reprint No. 321; a short article on the sale and use of poisons was published in the Reports of February 18, 1916.

Toxicity of drugs. In addition to the above, a study is being made of the untoward and secondary actions of drugs as recorded in the current literature and an index of the articles relating to the subject is being compiled. For use as a basis for future legislation relating to the sale and distribution of poisons the Bureau of the Census has agreed to prepare in the future detailed reports recording the deaths from suicide by poisoning and the deaths from accidental poisoning in the registration area. Some indication of the value of such a compilation is obtained by reference to the tables printed in Reprint No. 330 from the Public Health Reports, giving the data for the year 1909, the one period for which these data are available up to the present time.

Cosmetics as drugs.-A short paper by Technical Assistant Martin I. Wilbert on "Cosmetics as Drugs," published in the Public Health Reports and issued as Reprint No. 305, reached the following conclusions: That the presence of wood alcohol in cosmetics and other preparations for the human body should be prohibited by law; that salts of the heavy metals may be absorbed from cosmetic preparations and produce their characteristic constitutional effects; that to prevent serious intoxications, cosmetics should be classed as drugs, and it should be necessary to state on the label the name of any poisonous ingredient used.

Pan-American laws relating to poisons and narcotics.-In reply to a number of inquiries an effort is being made to compile the laws relating to the manufacture, sale, and use of poisons and narcotic drugs now in force in the several foreign countries of North and South America. The laws in force in the British colonies of America, the Dutch colonies, the French colonies, and in several of the Spanish-American countries of Central America, have been secured and abstracted. This material has already been of use as a source of information for replies to inquiries that have come in from time to time, and it is expected that when completed these laws will be of exceptional interest in that they will reflect condi

tions as they exist in the several countries of North and South America.

Influence of ethyl alcohol on phenol.-Experiments on animals conducted at the laboratory show that the addition of ethyl alcohol to solutions of phenol (carbolic acid) in water does not, in any way, inhibit the toxic action of phenol, but rather tends to facilitate absorption and thus hasten death. These experiments were reported in the Public Health Reports of April 28, 1916. (Reprint No. 336.)

Miscellaneous analyses and examinations. In connection with studies on the effect of milling on the vitamine content of cereals, phosphorus determinations have been made from time to time during the year on a very large number of samples. Another extensive series of samples has been miscellaneous body fluids collected by Dr. Barbat, of San Francisco, from patients to whom arsenobenzol compounds had been administered. More than a hundred determinations of arsenic were made in these samples.

Aid to other departments of the Government.-Samples of Novol and of Dr. Tucker's Asthma Cure have been analyzed for the Bureau of Internal Revenue; copper sulphate pencils for the Commissioner of Indian Affairs; poisoned barley for the Victor, Mont., laboratory; samples of drugs for the purveyor of this service, and miscellaneous samples from individuals.

DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY.

Prof. E. B. Phelps has continued in charge of the division and has also acted as sanitary advisor to the international joint commission.

The work of the division has comprised original investigations and researches along various public health lines; routine examination of samples and materials, including the analytical studies necessary in connection with certain field investigations; the preparation of special memoranda and reports upon matters submitted; special investigations made at the request of other bureaus of the Federal Government; assistance rendered the United States Civil Service Commission in the preparation of examinations and a correction of papers, and miscellaneous activities.

Routine examinations.-Under the classification of routine examinations and reports, the following work has been done: Sewage and sewage effluents, 963; water examinations made for officials of the District of Columbia, 105; drug assays for the purveying depot, 15; miscellaneous specimens examined, 101, making a total of 1,184. Three examinations have been prepared and the papers of applicants corrected. A special examination and laboratory study has been made for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, to determine the volatility of lead and other metals from molten type metal under conditions existing in the Government Printing Office. A special examination and report has been made of an electrical apparatus for the sterilization of drinking water upon a small scale. Plans have been prepared and submitted to the bureau for a small milk pasteurizing outfit suitable for use in hospitals. A special report has been prepared upon the various methods for the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.

63887°-H. Doc. 1493, 64-2-7

Diffusion of dissolved oxygen through water.-Work upon this investigation has been carried on from time to time as opportunity permitted, its purpose being the determination of an important physical constant which is involved in studies of reaeration and self-purification of streams.

Comfortimeter-These studies are the direct outgrowth of an earlier investigation completed last year at the Hygienic Laboratory relative to the various physical factors which determine the rate of heat loss from the body. The three important variables to be considered are the temperature, humidity, and velocity of movement of the air. A satisfactory mathematical formulation of the law involving these three variables having been arrived at, it seemed desirable to design a simple instrument for the quantitative measurement of the combined effect of all these properties of the air in one single value. Several pieces of apparatus have been constructed and tested and these studies have involved a complete investigation into the measurement of air currents and the conditioning of air. An apparatus has finally been designed which seems to fulfill the imposed conditions and the final work of calibrating this against actual comfort of individuals is now in process.

Theory of disinfection.—In connection with a general study being made by a committee of the American Public Health Association upon standard procedures for testing disinfectants, it has seemed important to investigate the fundamental laws underlying the action of disinfectants upon bacteria. Previous investigations have indicated certain fixed relations tending to emphasize the purely chemical nature of the reactions involved. This matter is being thoroughly investigated with a view to establishing a more scientific basis for the actual testing of disinfectants and with a broader object of determining the biochemical relations involved.

Preparation of a new liquid disinfectant.-Studies have been continued throughout nearly the whole fiscal year with the view to developing formulas for one or more liquid disinfectants utilizing for this purpose substances commercially available in sufficient quantities and at suitable price. This work has been largely focused upon the use of pine oil, a distillate from pine wood, and a paper on the subject by Sanitary Chemist A. F. Stevenson (Reprint No. 304) has been published. Since the publication of this formula, however, the cost of crude pine oil has increased to such an extent that one of the chief advantages of this disinfectant, that of low cost, has to a large extent been lost.

A complete and more scientific paper is in course of preparation, giving in detail all the studies carried out with a number of substances and complete results of the investigations.

Determination of minute quantities of antimony. This research, which was begun during the last fiscal year, has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion and, according to Prof. Phelps, it is possible, by the methods developed, to separate and determine minute quantities of antimony in the presence of allied metals. The sensitiveness of this test is far greater than any quantitative test which has heretofore been applied.

Determination of nitrates in sewage filter effluents.-This study, which was likewise begun during the last fiscal year, has been com

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