66 
THE CHEMIST AND DEUGGIST OP AUSTEALASIA. Ape. 1st, 1886. 
^bitoxhrl Hofcs. 
Speak freely ivhat you think ." — Shakespeaee. 
THE PHARMACOPCEIA AND THE PROFESSION- 
Now that the latest edition of the British Pharmacopoeia 
has been issued, and that several months have elapsed since 
its publication, it behoves every pharmacist to provide him- 
self with a copy of the work, and in future to manufacture 
his x^reparations according to the formulie there given. 
It is also essential to save confusion and disappointments 
that the medical faculty adopt the edition of 1885 as their 
authoritative standard — discarding all jirevious editions. It 
ought to be taken for granted by the pharmacist in dispensing 
a pres^ri]otion, that unless “ B. P. 1867” be placed at the end 
of any article mentioned in the recipe, the new pharmaco- 
poeiai strength or composition is meant. There should be a 
clear understanding on this x>oint. Of course in cases of 
change like this in a national standard it is desirable that due 
notice be given of the adoption of the new work both to 
prescribers and dis}pensers. 
It might be wise if the respective pharmaceutical societies 
of the several colonies in Australasia issued a circular to their 
own members, and to the medical men in their x>rovince, 
announcing that after a certain date (say June 1st), the B. P. 
1885 be exclusively adopted for all drugs and preparations 
finding a jilace in that volume. Though doubtless it may be 
inconvenient and irksome to x>rescribers, for some time to 
come, to have to remember all the alterations that have been 
made, it will be nothing to the revolution that took jdace 
when the first Pharinacoj)oeia was introduced to super- 
sede the divers ones of London, Edinburgh, and Dublin. 
Such a stex> prefigured the International Phannacoiiceiaj 
which will without doubt be ultimately adopted. 
Our readers will have observed in the March number of this 
journal a proclamation issued by the Queensland Medical 
Board recommendatory of the adoption of said Pharmacopoeia 
at an early date. May the other colonies follow suit in the 
wise suggestion. 
PICTURE OF PHARMACY AS IT IS. 
In another column will be found an account of the state of 
Victorian pharmacy, or rather the condition of some of the 
drug shops as regards equipment, at the present time. 
We fancy the xncture presented will appear overdrawn to 
the proprietor of a first-class business in Collins-street or 
Bourke-street, yet if the above descriiition correctly joortrays 
the nature of the stock and ax)})urtenances of even a thml 
rate drug and general store in some out-of-the-way village in 
the heart of the bush, the sooner the art of pharmacy is 
caparisoned in a new garb the better — not only for the dis- 
satisfied locum tenens^ but in the public interest. However, 
we must remember that the colony is still young, and i^har- 
maceutical legislation is but a child in long clothes. As it 
grows to maturer years, let us hoxie it will present a brighter 
aspect, and that the j)harmacies throughout Australasia will 
ere long exhibit a more satisfactory internal organisation than 
that depicted by our correspondent. 
THE CRY FROM MADAGASCAR. 
It appears that in spite of the never-ending crowd of 
recruits to the pharmaceutical army, and the equally constant 
emigration of older members of that fraternity to all of 
the world, there is still room for the prosecution of pill manu- 
facture et hoc genus omne in the island of Madagascar, which 
occuj)ies an area greater than that of the whole of the British 
Isles ; while its population at last census was larger than that 
of greater London, or about the same as that of Ireland. Now, 
it seems that the 'pharmacien is unknown in Madagascar, and 
we understand that there is much need of him, as well as fair 
prospects held out to those who feel disposed to try their luck 
in that portion of the Eastern Hemisxdrere, of doing well 
amongst the natives. We should imagine there would be good 
scoqie either at Tamatave, the chief ]oort, or at Tananarive, 
the capital of the island, which situated on an elevated 
lilateau in the interior, is considered more healthy than the 
east coast, which x>ossesses a hot and malarious climate. 
Hitherto, the Jesuit missionaries have distributed drugs, 
such as laudanum, quinine, and the like, to the peox>le ; but 
their supply is gratuitous, besides being variable, since it 
depends on the migrations of the Jesuitic priests. 
The natives themselves sell a few simple remedies in a very 
crude fashion, but doubtless rely most on the decoctions of 
indigenous herbs. 
THE PRINCIPALSHIP OF ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY. 
The Duke of Ric-hmond and Gordon has appointed Professor 
Geddes, Professor of Greek in Aberdeen University, to be 
principal of that University, in room of the late principal 
(Dr. Pirie). 
Professor Geddes was in 1882 an unsuccessful candidate for 
the chair of Greek in the University of Edinburgh, rendered 
vacant by the retirement of Professor John Stuart Blackie. 
He is a very erudite scholar, and his long connection with the 
University as one of the classical professors will enable him 
to fill the office of principal with satisfaction alike to the 
University and the Crown. 
COMBUSTIBLE DRESSES. 
We record amongst our intercolonial intelligence two in- 
stances of fatal accidents having occurred from ladies’ dresses 
catching fire. The one by which a lady at Orange, New South 
Wales, met her death under distressing circumstances ought 
to prove a warning in the matter. It has again and again 
been q)ointed out that the skirts of female dresses should be 
rendered non-combustible, especially if of light material, like 
muslin, jirint, or tulle, by the use of non-destructive chemical 
fluids, with which the garments should be impregnated before 
being worn. Simple immersion in a solution of tungstate of 
soda, or even alum, will prevent any fabric from flaming up if 
fire should come in contact with it, and will in no sense injure 
the fibre of the cloth or affect the dye. 
It is a sad fact that people nearly always lose their x>resence 
of mind in accidents of this nature. A blanket or rug (espe- 
cially if wetted) folded round the victim will extinguish the 
