PREPARATIONS OP THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA. 
397 
Mr. Moffat also spoke of the different modes of supplying air to the water, and gave a pre¬ 
ference for this purpose to Stevenson’s Aquarium Aerater, which was described some time 
ago in the ‘Pharmaceutical Journal.’ By the kindness of Professor Allman, several very 
beautiful coloured drawings were exhibited on the walls of the Hall, some of which were 
used by Mr. Moffat in illustration. At the close of the communication, a vote of thanks 
proposed by Mr. Ainslie, and seconded by Mr. Aitken, was unanimously carried. The 
Magnetic Hammer was thereafter shown. 
Before the meeting separated, Mr. Mackay read the following circular, a copy of which 
had been sent to the druggists in Edinburgh and neighbourhood :— 
“ At a Meeting of Chemists and Druggists, held in 5, St. Andrew Square, on the 8th 
instant, Mr. Robertson in the chair, for the purpose of considering the changes rendered 
necessary by the publication of the British Pharmacopoeia, it was agreed,— 
“ 1. That it is desirable the formulae of the British Pharmacopoeia be adopted as speedily 
as possible. As, however, it may be presumed that many practitioners will continue to 
prescribe by the old formulae, in order to guard against mistakes, it is recommended in 
the meantime, that a double set of bottles be kept where this is felt to be necessary. 
“ 2. That all prescriptions of older date than the publication of the British Pharma¬ 
copoeia be dispensed according to the formulae then existing. 
“ 3. That when a prescription is now dispensed, and any preparation of the British 
Pharmacopoeia employed, this fact should be intimated by the insertion of the letters 
B. P. by the party by whom it is first dispensed. 
“ 4. That when Liquor Taraxaci is ordered, the Succus Taraxaci of the B. P. is to be 
given ; but when Extractum Fluidum Taraxaci is ordered, the dark-coloured preparation 
is to be used. 
“ 5. That as the B. P. contains no directions as to the division of the pill-masses, it is 
agreed, unless otherwise specially ordered, that all the pills made according to the new 
formulae weigh four grains instead of five, as has hitherto been the case, with the follow¬ 
ing exceptions :—Pil. Opii—Pil. Calomel. Co.—and Pil. Ferri Carb. Sacch.—which shall 
each weigh five grains.” 
A Meeting was held in St. George’s Hall, 119a, George Street, on Monday evening, 
22nd February; Mr. Blanshard, President, in the chair. 
The following Notes on the British Pharmacopoeia were read, and illustrated with 
specimens of a good many of the new preparations :— 
NOTES ON THE PREPARATIONS OE THE BRITISH PITAR 
MACOPCEIA. 
JIO'X 
BY MR. STEPHENSON. i 
Mr. President and Gentlemen,—My design in what follows is to do little more 
than indicate the variations in the formulas of the British Pharmacopoeia, with 
especial, although not exclusive, reference to those of the Edinburgh College; and 
this with the view of fixing your attention and exciting your interest on prac u 
tical details with which we have to do at every turn in our daily avocations. u 
Acid. Hydrochlor. DU ., Acid. Nitric. Dil ., Acid. Sulphuric. DU. are all increased 
in strength. The hydrochloric, which was in the proportion of one part of acid 
to three of water, is now in the proportion of one to two and two-thirds i the 
nitric, formerly one to nine, is now one to six and a half; and the sulphuric, 
formerly one to thirteen, is now one to eleven and two-thirds,—change<s which 
will not affect the dose, unless perhaps in the case of the nitric. 1 Acid. Nitro- 
HydroclUor. Dil. is the old nitro-muriatic acid, diluted with four and a half 
volumes of water, and supplies a want which has been much felt by dispensers. 
It admits of being given in the same dose as the others. The only nitric acid 
now recognized is the pure acid of sp. gr. 1-5. Any of you who have experienced 
the difficulty of preparing Liquor Ferri Pernitratis so as to" keep unaltered, will 
find the difficulty removed by using this acid. Acid. Hydrocyanic. Dil. is now 
reduced to two per cent., and uniformity established throughout the kingdom,— 
a boon which I am sure we are all duly sensible of. 
VOL. V. 2 E 
