THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
155 
that the paper might be summed up in one position, that acetic acid was the 
proper solvent for the active principle of ipecacuanha. This was known before, 
but it was well to have it formulated in such a distinct fashion. This principle 
had been carried into effect in the new Pharmacopoeia, in which the direction was 
to form an acetous extract of ipecacuanha to be dissolved in sherry wine. This 
process was somewhat clumsy, and might be made a little more elegant, but it 
was satisfactory to have an authoritative direction of this kind. 
An English paper reports the death, at Northallerton, of a woman named 
Mary Ramshaw, through belladonna administered to her by mistake. The 
deceased, who had received a fracture of the thigh in a street accident, was 
ordered a mixture to take, as well as embrocation with which to rub the injured 
limb. Her daughter gave her a dose of medicine, when she instantly became 
convulsed, and in the course of about ten minutes died, the daughter having in the 
meantime discovered that she had taken the dose from the wrong bottle, the 
two standing on the same table. The surgeon in attendance stated that, 
although the embrocation contained a very strong preparation of belladonna, and 
was poisonous, he did not think it necessary to place any label on the bottle 
to that effect to warn persons of its nature. The jury, however, held a contrary 
opinion, and, in giving their verdict that the deceased was poisoned by bella- 
donna administered to her by mistake, added that the medical man was not free 
from blame in the matter, and that there ought to have been something about 
the bottle to indicate the dangerous nature of the contents. 
In a recent address to the London School of Pharmacy Students* Association 
by Professor Redwood reference was made to the future need for the possession 
of chemical knowledge by those engaged in the practice of pharmacy, and the 
Professor, speaking with all the advantage of long experience and special acquaint- 
ance with the subject, gave very decided expression to his belief that the 
application of chemical knowledge to the art of pharmacy is destined to replace 
much of what has hitherto constituted the chief art involved in the production 
of galenical preparations. 
It is stated that the proprietary medicine trade of the United States 
amounts to over £5,4(30,000 annually. Two millions of this goes in advertising, 
the retail vendors take £2,000,000, and the proprietors claim the balance for 
profits and expenses. 
The Pharmaceutical Journal of 6th February, in a sub-leader, gives an out- 
line of the provisions of the Amended Pharmacy Act of Victoria 1885. The 
article concludes with the following remarks ' “ The necessity of establishing 
provisions for ensuring the educational training of pharmaceutical students ante* 
cedent to the time when they present themselves for examination has evidently 
been appreciated by pharmacists in Australia, and the provisions of the new 
enactment are wisely devised for achieving this most essential condition of 
pharmaceutical advancement. The measures adopted are essentially the same as 
those which the Council of the Society has sought to bring into operation 
through the amended bye-laws, and it is impossible to avoid a certain feeling of 
chagrin at finding ourselves anticipated in the carrying out of such an obvious 
necessity. However, Australia has now shown the course of action that has to 
be taken, and it will be to our discredit if we do not at least promptly follow 
the example.** 
Sie James Paget, who has traced the fortunes of 1000 medical students, 
finds that 23 of the number achieved distinguished success ; 66 were also success- 
ful, though in a lesser degree ; 507 made a living ; 124 were scarcely so fortunate ; 
and 56 failed utterly. The rest either died or abandoned the profession soon 
after entering it. 
