164 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



Potassic Carbonas 10 — 30 fjrs. 

 Permang 1 — 2 " 

 Iodide 2—10 " 



We will keep these on oiiv shelves already dissolved, and we will 

 have the dose for all 1 drm. In order to do this we will make up say 

 one quart, 40 ozs, of each solution. In 40 ozs. there are 320 drms. 

 therefore to have the maximum dose of 



Potassic Carbonas in one drm. we must have 320 x 30 or 9 GOO grs. 

 " Permang. " " " " " 320 x 2 '•' 640 " 

 " Iodide " " " " " 320 x 10 " 3200 " 



Now we see by the above, that in 320 drms. of the Pot. Carb. solution 

 we have 9600 grs., or in 1 drm. of solution we have '-i^ = 30 grs. : in 

 the Pot. Permang., in 320 ozs. we have 640 grs. i.e. in 1 drm. we 

 have -^' or 2 grs. which is the requisite dose. 



Leaving the inorganic we next come to the organic pQrtion of 

 Materia Medica, this like organic chemistry, has a Uttle more 

 system in it, for we find here the majority of the tinctures have a 

 dose of from 1 — 2 drms. Still we have such discrepancies as 

 Tinct. opii 5 — 40 m. Tincture opia ammoniata | — 1 drm. m. 



" Camp. Co. 15 — 60 m. Liquor morphine Hydro- 



chloratis 10 — 60 m. 

 Fluid Ext Pilocarpine 10—60 m. Tinct. Pilocarpine 5 — 20 m. 

 Tinct Tolutana 15—30 m. Tinct. Lobelia 10—30 m. 



Also there are the various infusions, decoctions, wines, elixirs and 

 every manner of fluid preparation, with doses varied for each class 

 and the doses for any class varying among themselves. 



What possessed the originators of our Pharmacopeia to have the 

 doses so varied, when they might just as well and as easily have had 

 them the same, is to me incomprehensible. The same system and 

 principle will serve here as in the previous instance, by adjusting the 

 amount of the principles taken it would be very easy to have the 

 dose for all i — 1 drm. 



In this plan there would also be much less liability to poisoning. 

 The Modus operandi of poison cases is as follows : A druggist receives 

 a prescription which calls for Quina Sulph. xxx grs.; now Sulphate 

 of Quinine, as well as the salts of many other alkaloids, have a 

 great resemblance to each other in external appearance, so much so, 



