489 
CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE. 
M. Dumas, the new secretary of the Academie des Sciences, observes:—“ If every one 
of us took the fancy of combining with his name that of his great-grandfather, of his 
grandfather, of his father, and his mother, a singular complication would be found in 
our registers of births. A lifetime would be passed in learning the names of the persons 
with whom w r e were acquainted in our own neighbourhood. As to knowing the names 
of the inhabitants of a town, that would be an utter impossibility. This is, however, 
what our savants who pursue organic chemistry have to accomplish, so that their lan¬ 
guage has now arrived at a point of barbarism that cannot be surpassed. Now, would 
it not be desirable, in all points of view, to adopt a generic word, and to group around 
such word the names of species in proportion as science extends her conquests ? I am 
particularly interested in organic chemistry, but I declare that time is entirely wanting 
to me to peruse, while comprehending them, the various memoirs on the science which 
come under my notice. The complication and insupportable length of the names em¬ 
ployed are the sole causes of this .”—Medical Times and Gazette , March 21st. 
THE SUPPLY OP DRUGS TO PRIVATE PERSONS BY WHOLE¬ 
SALE DRUGGISTS. 
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sirs,—I wish to call the attention of all London chemists to a practice which 
exists to a considerable extent, and which I have reason to believe is increasing. 
The evil I refer to is, wholesale houses supplying private persons with drugs 
and chemicals. In confirmation of this 1 will mention that some time ago I 
had an assistant who had lived twelve months with one of our leading wholesale 
druggists, and he assured me that the business they did in this way was very 
considerable, so much so, that the time of one assistant in each department was 
nearly occupied in what they termed u casual work,” and that precisely the 
same prices were charged to private persons as to chemists. 1 have made in¬ 
quiries and find that other houses are doing the same thing. An assistant in 
one wholesale establishment told me, that he had been engaged all the day in 
putting up pints and quarts of cod-liver oil for “ casuals.” A few days ago we 
required a chemical preparation immediately, and, as I was going to the city, I 
called at my wholesale druggist’s to get it, and, while waiting, a person came in 
(a postman) and asked for a quart of cod-liver oil, and on it being given to him, 
he inquired the price, the gentleman said “ 2s. 2d., there are just 2 lb.” I could 
mention other cases, but 1 will only name one more. One of my own customers 
told me that he could get cod-liver oil and quinine at the same price as I paid, 
but just wanted a little to go on with. I inquired where, and he immediately 
mentioned one of our best firms. 
Now, Sir, I think the remedy is within our reach. Wholesale druggists who 
will discontinue and discountenance this “ casual work,” and will intimate the 
same in your Journal, should have patronage and support. 
I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, 
J. B. 
“THE VERMIN KILLER.” 
Mr. John Tuck (Oxford) states that chemists and druggists are being systematically 
fleeced by some disreputable fellows prowling about the country with a so-called 
“ vermin killer ” for sale. He thinks it his duty to expose the “ dodge,” and thus put 
others on their guard. The plan adopted, and by which they often effectually succeed 
