VoL. ii., No. 1 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST OF AUSTRALASIA 
25 
s;ii Vin. Ipecac, (containing 17 per cent, of alcohol) is equi- 
valent to iq. XX alcohol ; 5 U Tr. Camph. Go. (containing 57 
per cent, of alcohol) is equal to rti. Ixviii of alcohol, -while 
7 ’iiss Spt. Ghloroformi (with 79.7 per cent. S.V.R.) contains 
142J minims of rectified spirit equal to 7 q. cxix of alcohol. 
The total quantity of alcohol in this mixture amounts to 207 
minims. 
It follows, therefore, that 5 viiiss (representing the entire 
volume of the mixture, taking the quantities stated in the 
prescription) i.e. 510 minims, contains 246 minims of S.V.R. ; 
tin other words, the statement is correct that the mixture con- 
tains nearly half its bulk of rectified spirit (approximately 
24/51). Each teaspoonful dose must then necessarily contain 
half a drachm (speaking roughly, almost 29 minims) of spirit, 
.and it should be noted that this quantity is prescribed every 
hour. Such an amount would seem unreasonable for a child 
of the age of eighteen months. 
But, on the other hand, there is obviously a mistake in the 
last line of the formula, viz., Aq. ad. *i, for there is already 
half a drachm of fluid in excess of one ounce, and, therefore, 
no room for extra water at all. Evidently, a larger quantity 
was intended by the prescriber — probably sufficient to make a 
. 5 iiss.« mixture. But here lies the difficulty. How is the 
dispenser to act ? He must exercise his own discretion in the 
event of the writer of the prescription being outside the pale 
of reference. The most reasonable solution of the problem, 
under such circumstances, would be to ignore the prescription 
and send the mixture out in a full-sized 2 oz. phial. This 
would reduce the dose of spirit to about one half. 
In respect to the comments of “ Puzzled,” it is needful for 
the dispenser to remember, that to reduce the strength of a 
mixture, or in any way alter the dose of potent medicines, is 
beyond his province. The responsibility rests with the pre- 
seriber, and no blame would attach to the chemist for faith- 
fully following the formula, unless there is a palpable error, 
■or transparent omission, as there undoubtedly is in the pre- 
scription under question. 
Copying Prescriptions. — “What is the best book or method 
of copying prescriptions ?” On this point we should like to 
hear the opinions of our readers. 
Directions. — What is the meaning of the directions in the 
following prescription ? I should be glad if some one would 
reply giving actual hours when the medicine might be 
taken : — 
Digit. Infus. . . . . 51 
Liq. Arsen. . . . . m. 2^ 
Aq. Ad 5 gs. 
Every three hours in alternation with 
I^ Hst Acid Nitric . . . . 5 X mvi 
Aquje ad. . . . . . . 5 ij 
anir §l£atfjs. 
Such notices, if properly authenticated, are inserted free of charge. 
BIRTHS. 
Richards. — On December 4, wife of Mr. A. C. Richards, 
chemist, Richmond, Victoria, of a daughter. 
WooLcorT. — On December 4, the wife of Mr. John Newton 
Woolcott, chemist, Warracknabeal, Victoria, of a son. 
Shanasy. — At Conness-street, Chiltern, the wife of T. Shanasy, 
chemist and dentist, of a son, still-born. 
MARRIAGES. 
Hughes — Smith — At Cotswald, Carlingford, New South 
Wales, on October 28, Chas. H. Hughes, chemist, Mary- 
borough, Queensland, to Clara, youngest daughter of the 
late Richard Smith, M.R.C.S.E., of Winchcomb, Glouces- 
tershire 
Trezona — Tamblyn. — On the 1st December, at Wallaroo 
Mines, South Australia, by Rev. E. Hill, Richard T. Trezona 
of Port Pirie, chemist, to Florence Tamblyn of Wallaroo 
Mines. 
DEATHS. 
Douglas.— On November 1, Robert James Gibson Douglas, of 
Leeston, chemist. 
‘Copp. — On the 7th May, at West Lawn, Hamilton, Canada, as 
the result of an accident, Anthony Copp, jun., aged 22 
years. 
®riib£ llofcs. 
Mr. Edwin J. Billing, representing Messrs. Gaskell, 
Deacon and Co. of Widnes, manufacturers of chloride of lime, 
bicarbonate of soda, and other heavy chemicals, Messrs. 
Stevenson and Howell, London, manufacturers of artificial es- 
sences and other fine chemicals, and Messrs. Robert Gibson 
and Co., Manchester, manufacturers of medicated and other 
lozenges, is now in the colonies, and will visit Tasmania and 
New Zealand during January. Letters may be addressed to 
this office, or to the Bank of Australasia, Sydney. 
Mr. H. W. Potts, Bourke-street W., Melbourne, has issued 
a very pretty folding card giving postal information and cal- 
ender, and at the same time judiciously advertising his claims 
on public support. 
Mr. Wm. Shepperson, agent for Messrs. Burroughs, 
Wellcome, & Co„ has sent us one of the sample cases prepared 
by them to introduce their specialities to the medical pro- 
fession in Australasia. It is a neat cardboard case, divided 
into compartments allotted to the Kepler Malt Extract, Haze- 
line, beef and iron wine, cod liver oil, and nine minor speciali- 
ties. ^ Samples enough for a fair test are given of each pro- 
duction, and we imagine few practitioners can withstand the 
temptation of making a few experiments when the materials 
are placed so ready to his hand. The experiments once made 
and successful are sure to be repeated to the advantage of the 
neighboring chemist. Mr. Shepperson will be glad to receive 
names of doctors whom chemists would like to receive these 
cases. 
Messrs. A. and F. Pears have, through their local agents, 
Messrs. Forrest and Co., oflered a prize of ten guineas for the 
best essay on “ Imperial Federation,” through the Imperial 
Federation League of Melbourne. 
Mr. Hinshelwood, of Messrs. Gourlie and Hinshelwood, 
oil and chemical manufacturers, Glasgow, arrived at Melbourne 
on a visit to the colonies by the “ Liguria.” 
From announcements among our advertisements it will be 
seen that Mr. A. J. Josephs, of 12 Bridge-st., Sydney, is agent 
for the Nun Eau de Cologne and for Viscum, a new muscicide. 
The Nun Eau de Cologne has a great reputation, especially 
in some of the other colonies ; it is a ralher more lasting per- 
fume than some other makes, without any appreciable sacrifice 
of delicacy. Viscum is a glutinous preparation with a faint 
smell, which is attractive to flies, and lures them to a miser- 
able death ; when once they alight on the treacherous stuff 
they never escape. There ought to be a large sale for this in 
these fly infested regions. 
TRADE MARKS APPLIED FOR. 
New South Wales. 
‘Lincoln, Clarke’s Miraculous Salve” on n\ label, also, B41 
Clarke’s B41 Pills on a label, also, “Towle’s Penny Royal and 
Steel Pills ” on a label, also, “ Clark’s World-fa^ied Blood Mix- 
ture” on a label. For pills, mixture, &c. F. J. Clarke, Lincoln. 
England. * 
“Danske”“Det Forndbrlige Soegende Plaster” on a label 
For healing plasters. Wm. Lindegaard, Ford-street, Beechworth, Vic- 
toria. 
The words “ Dr. J. P. Ricards and Co’s American Hop Bitters,” for 
Hop Bitters. George Beard, Sussex-street, Sydney. 
The words “Superfine Goulburn Baking Powder” on a square 
label for baking powder. S. B. Burge, Sydney. 
The words “ Snowflake Crystal” with label for Maizena and Baking- 
Powder. Henry Pallenberg, of Hotham-street, East Melbourne, Vic- 
toria. 
Bryant and May Wax Vestas, London, on a label for wax vestas. 
Bryant and May (Limited) London. 
Tasmania. 
Representation of arrowroot plant in full bloom. The words “ P. 
Lahey and Son’s, Arrowroot, Pimpama, Queensland.” For arrowroot! 
W. Crosby and Co., Hobart, on behalf of F. Lahey and Sons, Pimpana, 
Queensland. 
Victoria. 
Southall's Sanitary Towel, for ladies, with lable, and monogram 
composed of the letters and the motto Semper Eademp for 
towels. Southall Bros, and Barclay, Birmingham. 
Eagle, with outstretched wings, with a label, “ Van Houten’s Pure 
Soluable Cocoa.” for cocoa and chocolate. 
Pears’ Transparent Uncented Soap. Price on label, also, Pf.ars 
Transparent Soap Tablet, on a label, also, “ A. & F. Pears’s Genuine 
Transparent Soap, Shaving stick on a label, also, Glycerine Soap 
“ A. F._ Pears’ Transparent, warranted to contain thirty per cent, of 
Glycerine,” on a label. For soaps of all kinds. A. & P. Pears, 92 Great 
Russell-street, London. 
“Lincoln” “Clarke’s Miraculous Salve,” on a label, also, B41, 
Clarke’.s B41 Pills, on a label, also, “Towles’ Penny Royal and 
Steel Pills,” on a label, also, “ Clarke’s World-famed Blood Mix- 
ture, F.J.C.,” on a label. For Blood Mixture, Pills, Salve, &c. Francis 
J. Clark (trading as The Lincoln and Midland Counties Drug Co.), ot 
Lfueoln, England. ® 
