lOG 
THE CHEMIST AND DKUGGIST OF AUSTRALASIA. 
April 1 , 1887 - 
to have satisfied him ; hut no, his shop was opened, and 
chemist put in charge, whose name appeared over the door, 
an large gold letters, as “ Manager of the Drug Hall.” Letters 
subsequently appeared in the papers reflecting on the action 
of the doctors, and especially that of the hos^Dital surgeon — a 
Xaublic servant competing with those who were supporting the 
institution. It is suggested that he should attend solely to 
his hospital duties, and the right of private practice be taken 
from him as well. The upshot of all this was, that a few days 
afterwards a23peared a most scurrilous advertisement signed 
by the two medicos in question, in which they stated they had 
no interest whatever in the new hall, save “ that they were 
confident their prescriptions would be properly dispensed 
there. Par nohlle forcitium'^ theve also a];)peared an ad- 
vertisement from the quondam manager, now stating that he 
was the proprietor ! that his was the best and cheapest shop 
in town, and that he kept only the purest drugs, &c . ; and the 
word “Manager” was hurriedly obliterated from over the 
door. Now there is war to the knife between the doctors and 
chemists, and the former resort to a great many mean dodges 
to compel the public to go te their shop, such as ^rutting pre- 
scriptions in sealed envelopes addressed to the late manager, 
taking them to the shop themselves, and writing them in 
cypher, <&c. Is retaliation possible ? Are not the doctors the 
masters of the chemists ? especially in some centres of popu- 
lation, where they can either make or break them, as the 
whim takes them. The pharmacist, I consider, is one of the 
worst paid, and, at the same time, hardest worked members 
of society, considering his professional attainments. There 
are now six chemists shops in the town, the population of 
which is about 9,000 inhabitants, and it is hard that men, 
who have been long established in the place, and who have 
spent their all in furnishing first-class pharmacies, should 
have to cope against such underhand trickery. Let there be 
competition by all means, but let it be fair and above board. 
It is a ))ity thot some modus vivendi could not be established 
between doctors and chemists. No doubt both are to blame in 
many instances, but 1 think the love of filthy lucre has fre- 
quently much to do with the action of the former. 
A Poisons Bill is urgently required in Queensland. Now 
any one can buy the most deadly poisons at the grocers. 
What is our Pharmaceutical Council doing ? Are they asleep ? 
When do they propose calling a meeting of the members ? 
It is high time that the chemists of Australasia, and Queens- 
land in particular, took some action towards endeavouring to 
■conserve their interests, and to retain possession of their un- 
doubted rights, which are gradually being wrested from them. 
Some means of defence or reprisal will have to be adopted, or 
they will find themselves very soon like Othello — “ their 
occujpation gone.” — I remain, yours truly, 
.ailEMICUS. 
Queensland, 21st March, 1887. 
To the Editor of The Chemist and Druijgist of Australasia. 
Bhisbane, March 8th, 1887. 
“ Eetailer ” is entitled to the gratitude of his brethren in 
Queensland. His assertions are correct and true. We are 
but the creatures and tools of the wholesale houses. They 
treat us as they like, and start an opposition shop next door 
as soon as they think we are making a i^enny more than wages. 
Often before that ! They carry on the retail trade ad lib. Any 
single article can be got by the general public at our wholesale 
houses. And we turn our cheeks affectionately to the smiters. 
I am, yours, Ax., 
ANOTHER RETAILER. 
[The following remarks were intended only for the Editor’s 
eye, but there is something in them whicli may act as a seed 
to uring forth good fruit if it drops in rich soil, and they con- 
tain nothing personal, so we give them to our readers with an 
apology to our correspondent. — Ed. C. & D. of A.] 
To the Editor of The Chemist and Druggist of Australasia. 
Queenslanu, March 8th, 1887. 
Dear Sir, — I have hurriedly scratched out a few lines in 
response to your circular. The whole matter bristles with 
difficulties and knotty points. Human nature is human 
nature, and chemists and druggists, as a rule, aim no higher 
than their fellows. Did they cultivate generally a higher tone, 
&c., and despise mean and petty trickery, they would get 
more sympathy, protection, and respect from the public. 
Why don’t they? Because they do not study their best 
interests or look beyond the end of their noses. They would, 
if they could, no doubt, be better than they are, butiniDractise 
they fail to carry their better aims out. Only men after all — 
and subject to the survival of the fittest. Which is it to be, 
men of special training or general storekeepers, mere hucksters? 
Yours sincerely, 
71 1 28. 
THE LOCUM TENENS DIFFICULTY. 
Relief for Che^iists with shall Businesses. 
To the Editor of The Chemist and Druggist of Australasia. 
Sir, — As there must be quite a number of chemists in Mel- 
bourne and suburbs who are not able or do not care to keep a 
regular assistant, and who have, like “Suburban Chemist,” 
been in difficulties over a Locum Tenens, it has occurred to me 
that we might take a leaf out of the enemy’s book and “ co- 
operate” to our mutual advantage. If assistants were offered 
£3 }ier week, with board, and two days off each week (includ- 
ing Sundays) a first-class man could be obtained, and if ten 
chemists joined together they could each get off one day in 
every fortnight at a cost of 12s. The scheme is capable of 
modification, as, for instance, one chemist might want relief 
only once a month, while another might require it once a 
week, but details would be very easily arranged if those inter- 
ested met together for an hour to discuss the question. After 
meetings would only be necessary when an assistant had to be 
selected, so that the labour and expense which a formal as- 
sociation involves would be avoided. 
If chemists who approve of the idea will communicate with 
me during the first week in April, I will undertake to make 
the necessary arrangements for bringing them together in the 
city, provided that the number of names received is sufficient. 
Thanking you for your courtesy in inserting this, 
I am, Yours, &c.. 
Middle Brighton, J. H. NIEMANN. 
March 12th, 1897. 
MUCILAGE OF ACACIA. 
To the Editor of The Chemist and Druggist of Australasia. 
Sir, — I am in a difficulty about bottled mucilage and turn 
to you as the most likely one to help me out of it. I find tliat 
ordinary mucilage goes sour very soon in warm weather, even 
when the bottles are well filled and tightly corked. The 
mucilage imported in bottles for retail sale seems to keei) 
indefinitely. Can you tell me liow it is preserved from change ? 
Yours, etc., 
FERMENT. _ 
[The following formula has been recommended for muci- 
lage for bottling ; it seems probable that fermentation would 
be prevented ; but one of the essential points in securing this 
is that the vessel used should be sweet and clean, and recently 
scalded with boiling water, and that any water used for dilu- 
tion should also be recently boiled, but quite cold : — Mix three 
ounces gum arabic and three ounces distilled vinegar with one 
ounce of white sugar. Instead of distilled vinegar one part of 
acetic acid and five parts of water maybe used. — En.j 
BRONZING ZINC AND IRON.— New South Wales.— 
Wanted — F''ormula and method of doing t‘he black and green 
and black and gold bronze work as used on American lamp 
stands and gas fixtures, etc., the same bearing a polished black 
surface, with tlie green or gold laid in, and is done on either 
iron or zinc castings. The green is dull in appearance, and 
is known in the trade as “Verde Antique.” It must be done 
quickly and cheap. 
[Our readers are invited to give us their ideas on the sub- 
ject, but the following process has been recommended, and is 
fairly rapid and cheap when applied to a large number of 
articles — The zinc or iron to be bronzed must receive an 
electro deposit of brass, which is then dipjied into a weak 
solution of sulphate of copper for a red tinge. When dry, wet 
with a rag dipped into ammonium sulphide or a solution of 
sulphurated potassium, or proto-chloride of copper dissolved 
in hydrochloric acid. After another drying the surface is 
brushed over with a mixture of peroxide of iron and plumbago, 
according to the tint desired. The brush may be slightly 
wetted with essence of tuiqientine, which aids the adhesion of 
the powders. The raised parts are either strongly rubbed to 
uncover the brass, or are set oft’ with chrome yellow or other 
suitable colours. Afterwards give a coat of colourless varnish. 
—Ed.] 
