The Pharmacopeia of the United States of America

USP XVIII, the second revision of the Pharmacopeia produced by the 1969-1970 General Committee on Revision, has recently become available and will become official from Sept 1, 1970. This revision contains 1,103 monographs, including 257 newly recognized articles. Only 58 previously recognized articles were dropped from this edition. The Subcommittee on Scope has given broader recognition than previously to individual drugs in a class, and thus more articles of equal therapeutic merit are included; nevertheless, the result is more apparent in some groups than in others; for example, only one thiazide diuretic was recognized for admission. The recognition of fixed combination of drugs is still very limited; none of the oral contraceptives is admitted, although most of their individual components are included. The section on "General Information and Procedures," which is useful primarily to those testing drugs, comprises about 20% of the pages. TheUSPprocedures for drug testing reflect