376 
PREPARING FOR PUBLIC \TION. 
The Modified Examination. By Frank Harwood Lescher. London: J. Churchill 
and Sons. 
This work is intended, though in no degree to the exclusion of the standard text¬ 
books, to serve as a guide to the salient points in the several subjects comprised in the 
Modified Examination of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
We are informed that it will be published about the middle of December. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
A Correspondent (Wandsworth) observes that the working of the New Pharmacy Act 
will be injurious to our trading interests, seeing that, although the Legislature has 
given the public a safeguard in confiding the sale of poisons solely to an educated 
class, no provision is made for the additional tax on the time of the retail chemist in 
carrying out the provisions of the Act; and our correspondent suggests that an addi¬ 
tional charge should be made in exchange for the trouble and care required in selling 
any of the poisons enumerated in the schedule. 
Mr. Joseph Leay, Mr. Ernest Agnew , Mr. T. 11. Prime , and “An Assistant” are 
thanked for their communications. 
“ Flour of Meat.” —We have received a sample of the “ Concentrated Flour of Beef,” 
in the manufacture of which considerable improvement has been effected by Dr. Hassall, 
rendering it more agreeable to the palate. 
W. C. (Chard).—The provisions of the Act do not apply to Patent Medicines. 
J. M. (Doncaster).—We are unable to give the information required. 
“ Enquirer ” wishes to know the best means of removing rust from the inside of an 
iron spirit-of-wine vessel. 
J. M. (Tuam).—Yes; the publication of Dr. Attfield’s work was subsequent to that 
of the Pharmacopoeia. 
Q. D. E .— Chilblain Liniment. See Vol. IX. p. 47, and Yol. XII. p. 260. 
“ A Subscriber ” (Leicester).—Yes. 
P. H. M. (Norwich). —Plocamium coccineum. No analysis has been published, that 
we are acquainted with. Both Mr. Broughton and Mr. Howard have analysed the 
leaves of Cinchona succirubra, and obtained alkaloids from them, the latter, to the extent 
of 0T1 per cent., and the former found 31 grains in four pounds weight of the leaves. 
Mr. Monaghan's communication is too long to be inserted. 
G. A. (Berwick).—The “ mechanical equivalent of heat ” is the amount of work or 
mechanical force represented by a given amount of heat, these being found to bear an 
exact and uniform relationship to each other. 
“ Apprentice ” (Neath).—The first is correct, but not the second. 
S. B. (Eton), referring to the process in the British Pharmacopoeia for mustard poul¬ 
tice, asks whether the use of water at 120° F. would not afford a more efficacious pre¬ 
paration than the boiling water which is ordered. He will find that the linseed meal is 
directed to be first gradually added to the boiling water, by which the temperature will 
be sufficiently reduced before adding the mustard. 
“ Pharmaceutist ” (Blackburn).—Liable to stamp duty. 
E. W. B .—(1.) Yes; read the latter half of clause 17. (2.) No. (3, 4, 5, and 6.) 
Yes. 
J. H. (Spofforth).—No signature is required for dispensed medicines; see Clause 17. 
./. B. (Northampton).— (1.) No. (2.) Reference to the Schedule will show of which 
poisons the preparations are to be retailed in the same manner as the poisons them¬ 
selves. 
J. C. (Bayswater) is surprised that “ the wholesale assistants have not taken action 
with reference to the injustice of the clause in the Pharmacy Act which exclude them 
from registration under the ‘Modified Examination.’ Our correspondent suggests that 
a meeting of the trade should be held on the subject. 
“ A Subscriber ” (Nottingham).—It will be necessary to pass the “Minor.” 
