10 
THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
improvement. Many of the objections to the new B. P. which I have read in the 
Lancet and other papers seem to me the veriest hyper criticism, and in some 
instances display pharmaceutical ignorance. 
I shall now proceed to notice the minor changes made in the Pharmacopceia. 
The characters and tests of the new Pharmacopceia are much extended, and 
rendered more in accordance with modern scientific knowledge. For instance, 
gum acacia was described as being “ In spheroidal tears,” &c. ; now it is “ In 
roundish, ovoid, or vermicular tears,” &c. The specific gravity of acetum 
cantharides is now given as about 1*060. No sp. gr. was mentioned in 1864. 
Acetum scillse is now to be prepared without alcohol, a most decided advantage, 
as the small quantity of alcohol only caused decomposition, a method which I 
have adopted for many years. Vinegar is now ordered to contain 5.41 per cent, 
of real acid H C 2 H s 0 2 , instead of 4*6 of acetic anhydride. The dose was 1 to 
2drs. ; it is now ldr. to loz. 
Acid acetic oil is to contain in one fluid ounce 19 grains of real acid instead 
of 16 anhydrous. The dose is, like vinegar, increased to loz. fluid. The specific 
gravity of acid acetic glacial is now 1*058 ; it was 1*065 to 1*066. Arsenious acid 
is now called an anhydride, “not a true acid,” and is more accurate. We find 
under acid benzoicum that the word crystalline has been omitted, and we are 
informed that “ it is not chemically pure.” The revisers have given us a new 
benzoic acid lozenge. The more scientific and shorter name, boric, has been 
substituted for boracic acid. Boric acid is not especially an acid of borax, but 
an acid of the element boron — its formula, H 3 B O a . The tests for carbolic 
acid are much improved. Boiling and melting points are now more correct. The 
acicular and pulveralent varieties of this acid have differing solubilities. 
Pharmacists should carefully study these tests. Acidum carbolicum liquifactum 
must be “ colourless, or very slightly reddish or brownish.” Chromic acid is 
new to the B. P., but old enough to us. The wonder is that its introduction 
is so late. The process for making gallic acid is now very simple, the sulphuric 
acid process being adopted instead of the tedious aqueous one. The process for 
making hydrobromic acid is so simple that all pharmacists may easily prepare 
their own stock, although it is quite different to Dr. FothergilTs, and stronger in 
H.Br. Among the new tests for hydrochloric acid I notice the indigo test for 
free chlorine. This was in the old P. L., 1836. The term “ molecular weight ” 
is now used instead of “ equivalent,” a molecule of H’cl. being 36'5. This 
alteration obtains throughout the book. 
We are under hydrocyanic acid ordered to perform the estimation “ speedily” 
— a proper caution. Lactic acid is so little used except in the preparation of lacto 
phosphatic syrups that nothing need be said upon it ; it is already familiar. 
Meconic acid for preparing brineconate of morphia is described. We shall 
now have a definite compound instead of a secret and indefinite. I am quite 
surprised that the editors of the B.P. should have ordered dilute nitro. 
hydrochloric acid to stand for 14 days. Dr. Tilden, some years ago, in a careful 
research, showed that this notion is ciToneous. Oleic acid we have used for 
years, and also concentrated phosphoric acid. Aromatic sulphuric acid is now 
to be made with tinctures of ginger and cinnamon instead of the crude drugs. 
No maceration is now required ; its sp. gravity has been altered to 0*911 ; 
it was 0*927. This acid is to be employed in making inf. cinchona} 
acidum. The sp. gr. of sulphurous acid is now 1*025. It was 1*04. 
We are notified that the tartaric acid of trade should respond to the tests 
as given. 
In the notices of plants constant reference is now made to the admirable 
work of Bentley and Trimen’s “ Medicinal Plants.” The botanical characters 
