THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 03 



CHEMICAL CHANGES IN DISPENSING. 



J. L. Lascoff presented an instructive paper on "Chemical 

 Changes in Dispensing, Causing Complaint," before the New York 

 Brancn of the A. Ph. A. in January. 



At some time or another, said he, every pharmacist is obliged to 

 attempt an explanation of why "the medicine doesn't look like it 

 did before." ~ Owing to the timidity of the patient and his lack of 

 chemical knowledge, the task is not an easy one. In Mr. Lascoff',-: 

 opinion it is much better to forewarn the patient, and for this pur- 

 pose he attaches to each container of a mixture likely to become 

 changed in appearance upon standing, a small label with the fol- 

 lowing wording: 



"Our patrons will please bear in mind that after standing, the 

 color of this mixture may change. This change does not in any 

 way afifect its medicinal properties." 



Illustrative of his remarks, Mr. Lascofif submitted a number of 

 prescriptions, compounding some and exhibiting in other casts the 

 finished product in various stages of alteration. Among these vere 

 a mixture of tincture of ferric chloride, antipyrine and spirit oF 

 niter, which changes color four times; a mixture of potassium 

 citrate, solution of ammonium acetate, spirit of niter and tincture of 

 cardamon which becomes colorless ; a mixture containing potas- 

 sium iodide and compound spirit of ether, in which the ethereal 

 oil liberates iodine ; a combination of resorcinol and salicylic acid ; 

 a liniment containing tincture of iodine and ammonia water; a mix- 

 ture of pehnol and tincture of iodine, which became discolored ; and 

 a prescription for phenolphtalein and magnesium oxide, developed 

 a mottled pink color. 



The subject presented by Mr. Lascoff was discussed by many 

 of the members. Otto Raubenheimer stated that potassium iodide, 

 spirit of nitrous ether, resorcinol and the salicylates were among 

 the chief sources of trouble at the dispensing counter. He had 

 observed that a mixture of spirit of nitrous ether and syrup of 

 raspberry gradually lost color; that a physician occasionally pre- 

 scribed this spirit with potassium iodide when he meant to pre- 

 scribe spirit of ether; and that the brown stains in potassium iodide 

 were caused by the liberation of iodide by acid in the waxed paper 

 in which the salt was wrapped. He, cautioned against the dis- 

 pensing of potassium chlorate with syrup of ferrous iodide. 



Mr. Diekman also spoke of the interaction of spirit of nitrous 

 ether and potassium iodide, and recounted his experience in point- 

 ing out to a physician the reason why the precipitate formed in a 



