200 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Saptember 7,1872. 
Examination Fees. 
Sir,—I was very pleased on reading Mr. Frazer’s excellent 
letter in a recent Journal on the above subject. That he 
will be successful in reducing the fee for the Major I feel con¬ 
fident, if the Council will take into consideration the ex¬ 
penses we as assistants voluntarily incur in order to pass; 
such as paying for laboratory instruction, chemical appara¬ 
tus, lectures and examination fees, books, board, lodging, 
and the whole of our time for about four months. 
Mr. Urwick’s resolution, “Thatall registered chemists and 
druggists be admitted members of the Pharmaceutical So¬ 
ciety without paying even the entrance fees,” is, to say the 
least of it, a very partial business indeed. What have these 
gentlemen done for the welfare of pharmacy that they should 
be dealt with so leniently ? 
Should Mr. Urwick succeed, “members ” will be so general, 
that comparatively few will think it worth their trouble to 
present themselves for the Major, unless prompted by the 
love of extra knowledge to do so. 
Much is said just now about provincial education. I say, 
in the first place, help those who try to help themselves by 
reducing the examination fees; then let them do what they 
can for the provinces. If you will insert this I shall feel obliged. 
Wales. - ■ . — ■— Machaon. 
Pharmaceutical Chemists and Members oe the 
Pharmaceutical Society. 
Sir,—Permit me to express my humble disapproval of the 
proposed plan of admitting Registered Chemists to be Mem¬ 
bers of the Pharmaceutical Society by payment of an annual 
subscription. 
I admit that it would considerably increase the funds of 
the Society, and this pecuniary benefit is all that I can see in 
the adoption of such a method. This, however, I think is 
completely overbalanced by a pecuniary advanfage of the 
Major Associate, which might be proved by asking almost 
any respectable and even educated person, unassociated with 
the regulations of the Society, the following question:—What 
is the difference between a Pharmaceutical Chemist and a 
Member of the Pharmaceutical Society? The majority of 
people imagine that the word Pharmaceutical implies or sig¬ 
nifies that the person to whose name it is attached has ob¬ 
tained it by passing stringent examinations ; they think such 
a man will be perfectly competent to make up prescriptions, 
and so he obtains their patronage. Seeing, then, that a 
member by examination and a member by payment are 
viewed in the same light by the public, we shall be placing a 
thoroughly competent Chemist on the same footing with a 
man who knows little, or next to nothing about his business. 
Can a surgeon become a member of the College of Physicians 
by payment ? 
In conclusion, I think it would be well if candidates for the 
Modified examination were allowed to present themselves for 
the Major without passing the Minor. J. L. 
Vermin Killers. 
Sir,—In the Journal for August, I read, in the case of 
“ Poisoning by a Vermin Killer,” that the Coroner for 
Leeds would consider it his duty to order the prosecution 
of any chemist who should sell “Battle’s Vermin Killer” 
without entering it in the ‘ Sale of Poison’s Book ’ in 
accordance with the 17th section of the Act of Parliament. 
Before we can obey the law we must know its meaning, and 
I cannot see how a “Vermin Killer” (though it may contain 
“ Strychnine or any of the poisonous vegetable alkaloids and 
their salts,” as stated in Schedule A, part 1, or “ The prepara¬ 
tions of strychnine,” as stated in the Additions to Schedule 
A, can be deemed a poison, requiring to be registered in 
accordance with Schedule F of the same Act. “Battle’s 
Vermin Killer” is a proprietary article, and as such we sell it. 
We are not supposed to know its contents; and if we were 
supposed to know the formula, I think even then it would 
come under the second part of Schedule A. If it does not, 
I think the words “Vermin Killer ” might be properly struck 
out, for the majority are made with strychnine, as being the 
most concentrated and surest poison for vermin we have. 
But even supposing it is necessary in accordance with law 
to register all “ Vermin Killers” containing strychnine, why 
are not our sheep-dipping compositions, our fly powders, and 
our maggot lotions entered in accordance with Clause 17, 
when it is well known they contain respectively arsenic and 
bichloride of mercury, and yet are sold by the hundred¬ 
weight ? Or, to come more closely home, why are not our* 
cough stuffs, sold in bottles at Is. 1 \d. and 2s. 9 d. (which so 
frequently contain morphia, emetic tartar, or prussic acid) 
obliged to be registered in our poison book ? 
I apologize for trespassing on your time and space, but 
should be glad if you would kindly give publicity to this, as I 
think if the Coroner for Leeds was to consider himself a 
chemist, and look at it in this light, he would then see that a 
“ Vermin Killer,” though it may contain strychnine, is not 
required to be registered any more than a cough elixir which 
contains emetic tartar, or a maggot lotion which contains 
corrosive sublimate. E. S. Balchin. 
Sir,—There appears much doubt respecting the sale of 
poisons, and various opinions given, and from the observations 
of the Coroner in the case of death from Battle’s Vermin 
Killer, reported in a recent Journal, it appears requisite 
for purchasers of Vermin Killers to sign for the same. If 
that be correct, will you have the goodness to inform me if 
the same applies to Sheep Dressing containing arsenic, also 
Brown’s Chlorodyne, and other preparations containing 
articles in the first part of the Poison Act; also if cough mix¬ 
tures, lozenges, etc., containing morphia or poppies, must be 
labelled “ Poison ?” I thick, for the satisfaction of the trade, 
some plain rule should be laid down, and not subject parties 
who are desirous of obeying the law to be censured in the 
way they frequently are. Inquirer. 
August 3rd, 1872. 
Sir,—In reference to your note on page 94 of the 
Pharmaceutical Journal, I would beg to ask whether 
you have seen the “ Regulations ” issued by the Council, and 
a copy of which is now before me, in which “ Vermin Killers” 
(every compound containing a “ poison ” and sold for the 
destruction of vermin) ” are distinctly placed in part 2 of the 
Schedule? I have always considered that they were so 
defined, and have acted upon that supposition, and I can say 
such is the universal practise in this district. 
As, however, your definition seems to clash so decidedly 
with the generally received interpretation of the matter, it 
would be very desirable to have an authoritative statement by 
the Council upon the question, that the chemists throughout 
the country may know what to do. 
Carlisle, August 3rd, 1872. W. Moss, Local Secretary. 
JR. I. N .—The opacity may arise from the cinnamon and 
cloves in the vin. opii rather than from the tinct. kino. The 
manner of mixing would also have somewhat to do with it. 
If the tinct. kino, vin. opii, and mucilage be added separately 
one after the other to the cinnamon water, the mixture will 
be fairly bright and reddish; but if the tinct. kino, vin. opii, and 
mucilag. acacia; are mixed briskly, and the cinnamon water- 
added to them, the mixture will probably be turbid. In the 
P. B. 1864, the aromatics were omitted in the vin. opii, and 
restored in 1867. Does our correspondent make his own tinc¬ 
ture and wine, and thus ensure uniformity in them ? 
Mr. J. Gamgee .—We consider the substance of your letter 
more suited for an advertisement than as a satisfactory 
decision of the question referred to in our issue of last week. 
The testimonial that you enclose from Professor Wanklyn 
has been forwarded to the writer of the article. 
G. Cathcart .—The solution ought not to deposit any sedi¬ 
ment. We should advise you to analyse the white sediment 
you speak of, in order to ascertain what it consists of. 
W. JHJ. JDingle .—The practice is much to be deplored, but 
we do not think it advisable to give it publicity by referring 
to it more particularly. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. C. Fryer, Mr. M. Elsvood, Mr. G. A. Keyworth, Mr. R. 
W. Giles, Mr. D. Jenkins, Mr. J. Barker, Mr. Barton, Mr. 
Atkins, Mr. Ekin, Mr. Deane, Mr. Haffenden, Mr. Sutton, 
Mr. Groves, J. A., T. G. S., A. C., “One of the Laity.” 
The following journals have been received-Th e ‘ British 
Medical Journal,’ August 31; the ‘ Medical T imes and 
Gazette,’ August 31; the ‘ Lancet,’ August 31; the ‘ Medical 
Press and Circular,’ August 31; the ‘Chemical News,’ 
August 31; ‘English Mechanic,’ August 31; ‘Gardeners’ 
Chronicle,’ August 31; the ‘Grocer,’ August 31; the 
Journal of the Society of Arts,’ August 31; the British 
J ournal of Dental Science ’ for September. 
