24S 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
mislead the public. All three are very va¬ 
luable, but for specific symptoms.. One acts 
obviously like valerian or prussic acid on 
hysteric or nervous symptoms; but for casual 
colicky pain's, dysmcnorrhoea, spasms of sto¬ 
mach, etc., at least two are wonderfully effi¬ 
cient. I think, in dispensary prescribing, 
nearly all the best effects of the three speci¬ 
mens are obtainable by use of chloric ether. 
I fear that, in diseased-heart cases, the prus¬ 
sic acid in some of the chlorodynes is very 
hazardous. The word chloro-dyne signifies 
“green pain,” if it signifies anything. I 
have suggested a form which is called chori- 
dyne, the Greek word for “ without” or free¬ 
dom from (%copls) pain,—in fact, another 
and more distinctive word than an-odyne. 
This is more rational than green pain, what¬ 
ever that is. We evidently want a neat 
and portable mixture, that will not spoil, 
that will remove all kinds of pain, or spasm, 
or colic, rather than profess to cure cholera, 
cancer, or fever. I am, etc., 
Charles Kidd, M.D. 
SacJcville Street, Sept. 16. 
P.S.—Every one knows the value of 
James's Powder, but of course nine men in 
ten make it for themselves, like Dover’s 
Powder or Mindererus’s Spirit. So must it 
be as to the chloroform compounds, now 
that we begin to apprehend or know their 
extreme value. We need not poison or de¬ 
stroy the blood either with “ chloral,” the 
new nine days’ wonder, the substitute for 
chloroform. We must be careful of bichlo¬ 
ride of methylene; that is of little value 
either, and takes fire or explodes. Chloro¬ 
form and chloric ether, perhaps, are worth 
all our other anaesthetics and anodynes of 
this class, only they are not sufficiently 
studied, and the new substitutes shake the 
faith of the public unnecessarily in their 
safety and effectiveness. All which the 
‘Pharmaceutical Journal’ does much good 
by explaining. 
“ ZacJiarie ” (Boston) .—Any elementary 
book on chemistry will give the information 
required. The figures on the right denote 
the combining proportions. 
“ Medicus ” (Aldershot).—Pyroligneous 
oil of juniper is obtained by the destructive 
distillation of juniper wood. 
“ Dispenser .”—If the preparation pur¬ 
ports to be of the British Pharmacopoeia, it 
must be made according to the formula 
given in that work. 
Our Perth correspondent will do well to 
comply with the requirements of section 17 
in the sale of “Vermin Killers.” We are 
not in a position to give a legal opinion on 
the question. (2.) A thorough acquaintance 
with the little work in question would be 
advisable. 
“1Registered Apprentice ” (Sunderland).— 
A person who passes the Minor examination 
receives a certificate from the Board of Exa¬ 
miners. The same certificate authorizes his 
registration either as an Assistant or as a 
Chemist and Druggist, and his name is at 
once removed from the Register of Appren¬ 
tices and he is eligible for election as an 
Associate. 
Mr. T. Lowe (Liverpool) and Mr. Jenner 
(Bury St. Edmund’s) are thanked for their 
communications. The subject will not be 
lost sight of. 
Syrupus Ferri Iodidi. —Mr. J. Strachan 
(Chester), in preparing this syrup, finds 
the following simple means most effec¬ 
tual :—“ After mixing the iodine, iron 
wire, and Avater together in the flask, I 
set it aside for an hour or so before applying 
the heat; and, on this being done,.ebulli¬ 
tion seldom or never takes place Avith any 
amount of heat. Chemical union seems to 
take place quietly in the cold, and is after¬ 
wards facilitated, but not to any dangerous 
extent, by the application of heat.” 
“Proteus ” (Paddington). —Apply by 
letter to the Registrar, 17, Bloomsbury 
Square. 
Mr. F. G. Wormald (Kortli Melbourne) 
sends an account of his Carbolic Acid Soap, 
Avhich he has introduced in that colony with 
great success. 
“ Inquirer ” (Goole).—Kot necessary in 
the case referred to. 
Gr. I. N. (Exeter).—The ordinary pre¬ 
scription book will answer the purpose, pro- 
vided the article be labelled with the name 
and address of the seller. 
“ Phus Tox.” (Bayswater) wishes to know 
the best method of dispensing the following 
prescription:— 
Argenti Nitrat. gr. x. 
Phosphori gr. i. 
Ext. Cannab. Indie, gr. vj. 
Mic. Panis Recent, q. s. M. 
Eiat pil. xx. 
Probably the least objectionable method of 
dispensing this not \ r ery safe prescription 
would be as folloAvs:—Put the phosphorus 
into about 20 grains of sugar of milk, pre¬ 
viously moistened with water, and triturate 
until the phosphorus is thoroughly divided; 
then add the other ingredients. 
J. P. —Hoblyn’s ‘ Dictionary of Scientific 
Terms’ would probably answer the purpose. 
IV. P. (Cannon Street) should address 
his question to the Council. 
Mr. Miller and Biondino, etc., next month. 
Wanted, the numbers of the Journal for July 1868, and January, February, and 
March, 1869. Full price given. 
