PHARMACY. 
tttiance with the im{)roved state of science. 
The Committee trust they have been able 
to remedy this inconvenience without very 
frequent violence to tlie names commonly 
employed; They have thought it most con- 
venient, and fully sulficient, to express each 
article in general by a single word*, and 
have retained the former one wherever it 
accorded either with the generic or specific 
tiame of Linnaeus, both of which, however, 
it has been necessary to employ, for the 
purpose of distinguishing between them, 
when more than one species is taken from 
the same genust. There being some veget- 
able substances, the names of which are 
in a manner independent of botanical no- 
inenclaturet, no alteration with respect to 
these seemed necessary, for in fact they 
are not at variance with modern science. 
Intending, moreover, that the pharmaceutic 
name shall, where a part of a plant is used, 
refer to that part only, they have transfer- 
red the term expressive of such part from 
the first column of the catalogue, in which 
it formerly stood, to the second. 
2. Weights and Measures^ From the 
great uncertainty of the customary mode of 
dividing by drops any quantities of liquids 
of less bulk than a drachm, and the increase 
of that uncertainty by the late introduction 
into some shops of measures applying to 
liquids of different densities, the bulk of a 
drop of water as a standard, the Committee 
have been led to consider the subject more 
particularly, and to adopt means for the 
removal of tliis uncertainty in the exhibi- 
tion of many active remedies for the future. 
They have, for this purpose, adopted the 
graduated measure of the late Mr. Lane, 
which is founded upon an accurate division 
of the exchequer wine gallon down to the 
one-sixtieth part of a drachm, and which is 
equivalent to a drop of water. Of course 
it is their intention, that the common me- 
thod of dropping liquids of different den- 
sities should be disused, and the measpre 
received into the. shops of apothecaries, a 
point upon which it will be necessai-y to 
place especial stress, in order that prescrip- 
tions may be accurately prepared. As the 
same Latin terra has been employed to ex- 
press the pint measure and the pound weight, 
they have extended the same resemblance 
to inferior measures, and have the more 
readily substituted grunum for gutta, be- 
* Aconitum. Cascarillui 
t Rosa Gallica. Rosa canina, 
t AraUcum gummi, 
VOL; V, 
cause the latter term implies that peculiar 
mode of division which they wish to depre- 
cate. 
3. Arrangement, On this head it is only 
necessary to observe, that the chapters have 
been arranged in what appeared to be a 
more natural and convenient order of the 
Substances concerned than the former one. 
4. Processes, Considerable alteration has 
been made in various processes, by which 
it is hoped they will be found more accom- 
modated to general use. Expense in prepa- 
rution ought not to be balanced against cor- 
rectness and uniformity, and it is to be 
lamented that the profits and competition 
of trade should have induced a very exten- 
sive disposition to ' deviate from the direc- 
tions of the Pliarmacopoeia. To this point, 
therefore, the Committee have looked with 
much attention, and, as far as they have 
thought themselves justified, they have en- 
deavoured to make such deviation less an 
object to the operating chemist than here- 
tofore ; for this purpose they have not looked 
in their formulae to that accuracy which 
would be necessary for chemical tests, but 
rather to the uniformity of the preparation, 
and its use as a medicine. The directions 
for manipulation are given generally, be- 
cause they admit of some variety in their 
application in many instances, according to 
the scale on which they are prepared, and 
other circumstances; the Committee ttust, 
however, that, if their directions be follow- 
ed, the results will be in the same propor- 
tion uniform and correct, and that the well- 
educated apothecary will have no difficulty 
in understanding and applying them. Under 
this head, it is particularly incumbent upon 
the Committee to acknowledge the great 
advantage they have derived from the 
liberal communications of the Society of 
Apothecaries, with respect to the practice 
of their extensive concern, and also from 
many individuals engaged in chemical pre- 
parations upon a large scale. 
5. Omission of former Articles, and Intro- 
duction of new ones. In the rejection of 
,-iany substances of trifling importance or 
efficacy, of others wluch have appeared 
rather to belong to extemporaneous pre- 
scription, and of Certain forms of medicine 
which have become obsolete in general 
practice, and also in the introduction of any 
new articles, the Committee have exercised 
their own judgment freely, and they trust 
with sufficient caution. They hope the 
College at large will approve of their having 
neglected to insert many substances which 
Q 
