168 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
“ Inquirer .”—In the action of nitric acid 
on brucine, a nitro-compound (cacotheline) is 
produced, which is partly the cause of the 
colour that occurs. 
A. Z. (Cheltenham).—(1.) The characters- 
you describe must result from defective pre¬ 
paration of the liquor, the iron being imper¬ 
fectly acted upon by the nitric acid. (2.) 
Neutralize the quantity of acid named, and 
dilute to the required extent with w^ater. We 
presume, however, that it is not intended to 
contain 20 per cent, of acid. 
“Agricola” —(1.) The ground bones maybe 
mixed with about two-thirds their weight of 
oil of vitriol in its first partially concentrated 
state, sp. gr. 172, mixed with two volumes 
of water. The action may be promoted by 
the application of heat. (2.) About £32. 
“Pharmacopoeia.” —The oxide of lead used 
in making the subacetate often contains a 
little copper, which gives colour to the solu¬ 
tion. This may be removed by heating the 
solution in contact w ith a piece of clean me¬ 
tallic lead. 
“A Student.” —Theteims are intended to 
refer to the metal in the tw r o states of com¬ 
bination in which it exists in mercurous and 
mercuric salts. The terms univalent and 
bivalent are more generally used. 
“Pharmaceutical Ignoramus.” —A grain- 
measure is the volume of a grain (by weight) 
of distilled water. Thus, 100 grain-measures 
of sulphuric acid is a quantity by measure 
equal to 100 grains by w eight of distilled 
water. 
P. G. (Dunbar) recommends, in making 
tinctures by percolation, that the displace¬ 
ment should be effected with methylated 
spirit. He says he can operate in this way 
without allowing any of the methylated spirit 
to pass into the displaced product. We 
should fear, however, that in unskilled hands 
the process would prove less satisfactory. 
“ An Assistant.”— Dupres Electric Lamp 
may be obtained of Messrs. Browning and 
Co., Ill, Minories. 
N. O. P. —No; the Major Examination 
is necessary. 
JET. H. P. (Ryde).—We are unable to give 
the information. 
B. 3. B. (Liverpool).—Apply by letter to 
the Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square. 
W. B. (Upper Norwood).— (1.) Yes; but 
having passed the Minor Examination, may 
be registered as a chemist and druggist. (2.) 
No. (3.) We know of no means of prevent- 
ing it. 
“ Chemicus” (Bury) should apply by letter 
to the Registrar. 
“ JEolus” (Louth).—A knowledge of both 
is expected. 
C. B.—We know of no formula for 
Syrup of Hypophosphate of Quinine and 
Strychnia. 
Messrs. Curtis and Co. (Baker Street) wish 
to be advertised of the secret formula for 
“ TJng. Odorata.” We presume that Adeps 
Odorata is intended, respecting which there 
is no secret, as will be seen on reference to 
the ‘Pharmaceutical Journal,’ Yol. VIII. 
p. 246. 
D. JJdall (Congleton).— Dynamite. See 
Yol. X. (n. s.) p. 367. 
A. P. S. (E.)—(1.) Parchment Paper. See 
Yol. XYI. p. 612. (2.) Herbarium Prize. 
See Regulations, Yol. X. (n. s.) p. 571. 
W. M. 3. calls our attention to a state¬ 
ment made by Dr. Alfred Taylor in his evi¬ 
dence at a recent trial of a prisoner for poi¬ 
soning with white precipitate, to the effect 
that he bad endeavoured to get that article 
included in the schedule of poisons to the 
Pharmacy Act, 1868, and that as it was 
omitted it was sold without being marked 
“ poison.” Our correspondent observes that 
to place the sale of white precipitate under 
the regulations required by the Act would 
encourage uncleanliness among the class of 
persons who principally use it. At the same 
time he states that he never sells it, and that 
it should never be sold, without a poison 
label. 
“ A Country Assistant” has sent us a long 
communication on the subject of “ Qualifi¬ 
cation v. Bemuneration,” to which “Pal- 
mam” referred in our last. We think the 
hardship of which he complains can only be 
remedied gradually, as the interests of phar¬ 
macy and the position of pharmacists, are 
advanced by means which are now provided 
and are in active operation. 
“Alkali” wishes to know which is the best 
of the American Drug Trade Journals. 
“ A Correspondent.”—The New Notation. 
See the Articles on this subject by Mr. Til- 
den in this Journal. Yol. IX. (n.s.) pp. 625, 
' 579; Yol. X. (n.s.) p. 7. 
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