12 
THE CHEMIST AND DEUGGIST OF AUSTEALASIA. Jan. 1st, 1886. 
20 per cent, ad vaL 
12/- per gal. 
1/- per gal. 
12 /- „ 
12 /- „ 
25 per cent. vaJ. 
Free. 
Free. 
Free. 
Free. 
Borax dry soap and borax extract . . 
Brilliantiiie, Pinaud’s ’ 
Collodion, containing 20 per cent, of methy 
lated alcohol . , . . . ^ ‘ 
Extr. ergot;e liquid, containing alcohol ! 
Hops, Aroma of, containing 20 per cent of 
alcohol 
Mist. bismuUii cum pepsin, Hewlett’s 
1 ilules, unmedicated 
Sago flour, not starch, but the raw materia 
from which sago is manufactured 
Varnish, fine (analagous to turpentine) 
Varnish, black 
‘Copyist,” in a letter to the Brisbane Courier, December 
, gives the statistics of the treatment of cholera by 
homeopathy He says; “In 1830 Dr. Fleischmann, of 
Vienna, treated 732 _ cases, and saved two-thirds, with the 
lesult tiiat the Austrian Emperor founded a chair of hommo- 
patliic medicine in the University. In 1851 the London 
Liiolera Hospital returns showed a mortality of 30 iier 100, 
, P ^ Hospital alone showing a mortality of but 
10*1 per 100. 1 he Government Inspector added to his report 
the words, “If ever I should have the misfortune to catch the 
cholera 1 hope I may be treated homoeopathically.” For the 
sake of comparison he gives the results of the allopathic 
tieatment at in August this year, when there Avere 
JIB cases and 011 deaths, two out of three, and in September, 
A\hen there were 923 cases and 183 deaths, or more than 
one-half. 
„ Queensland Government, at tlie suggestion of the 
^oard of Management of the Botanic Gardens, have granted 
twelve months’ leave of absence to Mr. Pink, the controller. 
It has been suggested in the Melbourne Argus that the present 
would be a grsiXit a similar privilege to 
Mr. Guilfoyle, the director of the Melbourne Botanical Gar- 
clens. Ihe Indian and Colonial Exhibition in London would 
make the concession doubly valuable. 
SCIENTIFIC AND PEACTICAL NOTES AND FOEMUL.E. 
Adulteiution oe PEprEE. — The statement has gained cur- 
rency that the stones of the olive wdien ground to poAvder 
could not be distinguished microscopically from ground 
pepper, and that this neAv adulterant Avas in common use. 
lo set the matter at rest, M. G. Planchon, the well-known 
director of the Montpellier School of Pharmacy, has made a 
very careful and elaborate microscopical investigation, the 
results of Avhich are published in the Journal dc Bhannacie. 
He finds that none of the structural elements of pepper can be 
confounded with those of the stones of the olive. The distinc- 
tive characters of the two are perfectly clear, and furnish an 
absolutely certain means of detection. 
Dr. Lardier states (Journal de Mededne) that he has given 
as much as 12 grains of strychnine in tAventy-three hours in a 
case of delirium tremens, Avith excellent remedial effect. 
^ I YROGALLic Acii). — The great difficulty in its use is in find- 
ing a in'eparation that will not scale off. The one seemingly 
best adapted to this purpose is given beloAv, as recommended 
1 ocUi Mernl Picketts (Cincinnati Lancet and Clinic, July 
11, IBBo) :—Collodion flexible, ^i; Ac. i:>yrogallic, gr. xlvii : 
Ul. ricmi, gtt. X. This Avill remain on the skin for three or 
lOur days, and is, indeed, the best-knoAvn form at present to 
use in the treatment of chronic eczema and psoriasis. Its 
cleanliness is a desirable feature, as it can be used in this 
loi'm Avithout soiling the clothes of the patient. — Therapeutic 
Gazette. ^ 
Castor Oil (Iioav to administer it).~Dr. L. Duncan Bulk- 
ley objects most decidedly to having spirit, Avine, or any such 
substances added to it, and prefers even that it should not be 
given in conjunction with orange, milk, coffee, Ac. The plan 
he has usually adopted is as folloAvs : — The patient takes a sip 
of very cold ice water, or a small lump of ice, holding it in the. 
rnoutli for a moment, and the oil is immediately taken in a 
single dose from a large spoon. The lips are then quickly and 
veij firmly wiped or rubbed with a towel, and a drink of ice 
Avater is taken instantly afteiAvards. In this Avay those aaIio 
have shuddered at the idea of taking the oil have found that 
it gave them little annoyance, and in this manner it is left 
free to act in the stomach Avithout the presence of substances 
which might interfere with its operation.— /oMr/mZ American 
Medical Association. 
FIJI. 
(froai our oaa^n correspondent). 
We haA'G receiA^d from a correspondent who has recently 
been appointed dispenser under the Fijian Government, the 
folloAving interesting account of tlic state of pharmacy in that 
colony. We are coniiielled to reserve till next month an ac- 
count of the laAvs Avhich regulate the practice of pharmacy. 
Hospitals. 
There are two GoA-ernment hospitals in Fiji, one at Suva 
and one at Levuka. At the former I found a Avell appointed 
dispensary and a stock of drugs largely in excess of my expec- 
tations. The dispensary is under the able management of Mr 
Arthur J. Swann, to whose kindness I Avas indebted for a 
much better insight into the routine of hospital Avork than I 
could othei'Avise liaA'C obtained in the short time I spent at 
Suva. ^ Having passed tlie previous five years in a leading 
establishment in the Avest end of London, dispensing for the 
aborigines of Fiji, Avas an entirely neAv exiierience to me. 
Mr bAvann’s position is by no means a sinecure, the daily 
routine being principally as folloAvs : . . 
(1) . To dispense medicines for an average of about 70 
patients, of Avhoin not more than 5 per cent. Avould be Euro- 
peans, the remainder being Fijians, Indians, and Polynesians. 
Also to dispense for the Gaol, Immigration Depot and Lunatic 
Asylum. 
(2) . To supply drugs on the requisition of all GoA'ernment 
medical officers throughout the group, and to Levuka Hospi- 
tdil* 
(3) . To act as Fijian interpreter betAveen the medical officer 
and about a dozen natiA’e students. 
(4) . To assist at surgical operations and attend post 
mortems, Ac. 
It Avas for a short time doubtful Avhether Mr vS\A'ann or my- 
self Avould remain at Suva, but after a lapse of three weeks it 
Avas decided that I should proceed to Levuka. Here also the 
dispensary is large and fairly Avell stocked, necessary supplies 
of drugs, Ac., bemg draAvn from Su\'a. There is an average 
of about 20 to 25 patients, AAuth one or tAvo Europeans as a 
lule.^ The diseases mostly preA^alcnt are lung diseases, (pneu- 
monia, phthisis, pleurisy, etc.), Fijian ulcers, a kind of ring- 
Avoim fiequently covering the Avhole body (Fijian mate in 
solo) an occasional case of elephantiasis, and ^during the hot 
season dysentery. The cases of ringAvorm are especially 
numerous. The folloAving prescription Avhich represents about 
a tAVO months supply has been used Avith invariable success in 
its ticatment : . . I^. Sulph. Subliin., Bibs ; Gretas Bra^p. 41bs * 
Mollis, Bibs ; Adipis, 241bs ; M. ft. unguentum. In 
addition to the Government hospitals many of the larger planta- 
tions and sugar companies have their oavii hospitals and employ 
dispensers at salaries from about £100 to £150 per annum 
with board and lodging, but vacancies are of rare occurrence. 
Pharmacies. 
Suva is Avell represented by the pharmacies of Messrs Jones 
and Grounds, Avhose establishments compare favorably in 
jioint of size, arrangement and general appearance Avith many 
which I observed in Melbourne and Sydney. Since my arrival 
in Levuka I understand a third establishment has been started 
in Su\a, under the auspices of Dr Mann, and the mana'’‘e- 
meiit of Mr W. SAvann. 
Levuka boasts of only one pharmacy, the old established 
one of Mr J. B. SAvann. 
The retail prices ruling for dispensing and drugs are neces- 
sarily much higher hero than at home, or in the Australian 
colonies. Chemists have to pay a store license of £20 per 
annum. All drugs and patent medicines are subject to an 
import duty of 15 per cent, all valorem, Avhile opium and all 
preparations containing it pay a duty of 15s per lb. 
The Fiji Gazette, of October 10, contains the Colonial 
Estimates for 1886. £500 are allotted for instruments and 
drugs. Ihe Suva Hospital is to cost £1598, including £150 
for the dispenser and £48 for the assistant dispenser. The 
Levuka Hospital is to cost £860, including £150 “for clerk 
and dispenser.” £250 are allotted for the expenses of the 
Indian and Colonial Exhibition. 
By an ordinance published in the Loyal Gazette on October 
27, the Governor is empoAvered to suspend, from time to time, 
sections II, and III. of the Medical Practitioners’ and Apothe- 
