70 
A NEW INDEX FOR REGISTERING THERMOMETERS. 
sion to another, and also to give a little information which perhaps may prevent 
any one else being similarly circumstanced. 
I have no intention to cause the least annoyance or to hurt the feelings of 
any one, therefore I shall mention no names, hoping it may have the desired 
effect without. 
One day last week one of my customers brought me the following prescription 
to be dispensed :— 
Jit Elixir Vitriol. Aromat. (Mynsich.) 5 j. 
Tinct. Cascarillse £ij. M.ft. guttse. 
with the remark that “ I was to be very particular in reference to the first pre¬ 
paration, and, in case I had none, I could obtain it at-.” Well, Sir, wishing 
to be conscientious, and as I never allow a prescription to be prepared under 
any doubt or uncertainty, I sent to the establishment named for some, but was 
flatly refused it, and an answer returned that “ if I chose to send the prescrip¬ 
tion, it would be dispensed.” Now, Sir, at this I have no reason to grumble or 
complain, every one having the right to carry on their business as they may 
think proper ; so, not being able to help myself, like many others I made a 
virtue of a necessity, and the next morning sent the prescription (with a printed 
order, that there might be no mistake) to be dispensed. But, Sir, what I do 
complain of is this, viz. that the prescription was returned bearing the stamp 
of the establishment. You may imagine my astonishment, Sir ; it is so great 
that I will not trust myself to make any comments, but leave you and the pro¬ 
fession to form your own opinions. I had innocently imagined that the world 
was large enough for us all, but I suppose I have been deceiving myself. For 
the benefit of those who may not know what preparation is intended, I will just 
add that the Elixir Vitriol. Aromat. Mynsich. is identical with the Acid. Sulph. 
Arom. of the Edinburgh and Dublin Pharmacopoeias. 
I am, Sir, yours obediently, 
B. M. Johnson. 
70, Tottenham Court Road. 
A NEW INDEX FOR REGISTERING THERMOMETERS. 
We have received the following notice from Mr. W. Symons :— 
Maximum registering thermometers are generally made on Rutherford’s plan, 
with an index, which is pushed before the mercury and left at the point of 
greatest expansion. Steel has been usually used for the purpose, but it is liable 
to rust and has other defects. Other substances have been suggested, and per¬ 
haps none with more success than graphite ; but this body sometimes contains 
impurities, which appear to affect the mercury and thus disarranges the instru¬ 
ment. Other ingenious methods of registering have been suggested, two of 
which are well known and much used by meteorologists, but these are not alto¬ 
gether free from objection, and at least, for popular use, a cheap day-thermometer 
with a perfect index has been a desideratum. Mr. Symons, some of whose in¬ 
struments have been previously noticed in the ‘Pharmaceutical Journal,’ has for 
some time been experimenting on the subject, and thinks he has now succeeded 
in introducing an index, which he calls “ Lithite,” free from the usual objections. 
It has stood every test that can be applied, and the thermometers are now in the 
hands of many observers. 
