252 
SALE OF METHYLATED SPIRIT “WITHOUT A LICENCE. 
daily while complaints are being daily made of the inadequacy of the remune¬ 
ration afforded by the ordinary charges for dispensing medicines. In a pro¬ 
spectus issued by the “ Civil Service Supply Association, Limited,” we find a 
list of prices for u drugs, family and patent medicines,” in which are the follow¬ 
ing Blue pill 'and draught, 4 d .; 4 oz. of castor oil, 4|d. ; citrate of iron and 
quinine, 2s. an ounce ; compound rhubarb pills, Id. a box ; ipecacuanha wine, 
4 oz. bottle, lid .; patent medicines, 3 d. off 13 \d .; Howard’s sulphate of qui¬ 
nine, 65 . 6d. per oz. In the same prospectus we find the advertisements of che¬ 
mists occupying good positions among their London brethren, one a pharma¬ 
ceutical chemist by examination, who offer “ drugs, medicines, chemicals, etc.” 
at 25 per cent, off the ordinary prices. 
We feel assured, in putting these facts before our readers, that further com¬ 
ment upon them is unnecessary. 
IMPROVED MORAL SENSE IN PHARMACY. 
We congratulate the American Pharmaceutical Association upon the excel¬ 
lent example they have set, in adopting a standard of morality, the maintenance 
of which among their members cannot fail to produce a beneficial influence, not 
only throughout their own country but wherever pharmacy is practised. Still 
it may be a question, considering the nature of a large number of articles in 
common use, prepared and sold by pharmaceutists in all parts of the world, 
whether the first case in which this high standard has been applied was not 
dealt with more harshly than sound wisdom required. In another part of this 
Journal, at page 294, will be found an account of the measures adopted for ex¬ 
posing and repudiating the conduct of a member of the Association, who had 
unfortunately overstepped the bounds of fair dealing, by selling an article under 
a false name. 
There could be no better and sounder indication of the beneficial influence of 
association among men engaged in similar occupations, for the purpose of ad¬ 
vancing their common interests by improving their professional qualifications, 
than that which is manifested in the exercise of a more elevated moral sense. 
SALE OE METHYLATED SPIRIT WITHOUT A LICENCE. 
Several cases have recently occurred in which chemists have been fined for 
selling methylated spirit without a licence. The highest penalty for this offence 
is £50, which may be imposed on summary conviction before a magistrate, and 
the magistrate having convicted has no power of reducing the penalty below one- 
fourth of that amount. There is, however, a subsequent appeal to the Board of 
Inland Revenue, who are authorized to settle the case according to its merits, 
either confirming the magistrate’s decision or mitigating the penalty wholly or 
partially. The Board have great, almost despotic power ; but we believe they 
generally exercise it with moderation and judgment. Air. Farmer, of Putney, 
has sent us an account (see page 307) of the circumstances under which a 
penalty of £12. 10s. has been enforced against him, although the Board had pre¬ 
viously reduced the fine to £1 ; but we believe this reduction was accompanied 
by a condition that it should be immediately paid, and as Air. Farmer demurred 
to the payment, and allowed fourteen days to elapse before settling the case, the 
mitigated penalty was withdrawn, and the original fine recovered in a very 
peremptory manner. The case is published as a warning to chemists generally, 
but we must say the Board appear, from what has been represented to us, to 
