60 
THE PHAEMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
[July 16, 1870. 
style and gram m ar, than those given above might be found 
—for example, in the ‘Pharmaceutical Journal’s’ advertise¬ 
ment sheet. 
How frequently wholesale druggists begin or end thus ! 
“With Messrs. - compliments, soliciting the favour of 
your orders.” This use of different persons in the same 
clause is a very common error. 
To those (if there be any) who think accuracy in style of no 
moment in trade announcements, it is sufficient to reply that 
persons who make mistakes do not do so intentionally, and 
would never think of defending their errors on the ground of 
expediency. There is a sort of involuntary admission amongst 
mankind that it is a duty to be correct in language as well as 
in behaviour or morals. But a practical reply might also be 
given. In these railroad times men have scant leisure; that 
which reads easily and tersely is read; that which reads enig¬ 
matically and clumsily is misunderstood or passed over. Be¬ 
sides, there is the indirect effect of correctness or otherwise 
on reputation, which no one can afford to disregard. 
Unfortunately, slipshod composition is not a speciality of 
the drug trade, but common to all professions, as a copy of 
the ‘ Times ’ will easily prove. It is not at all unusual to 
find even educational advertisements to which just exception 
might be taken on this score, while general announcements 
are frequently unintelligible, and sometimes positively non¬ 
sensical. In all such cases, no less than in trade circulars, a 
little attention to the phraseology and composition would be 
a great advantage to both advertiser and customer in the 
opinion of Echo. 
“Sic Vos non Vobis.” 
ence, in consequence of the system (most objectionable as I 
think) of dispensing their own medicines, which is adopted by 
about 90 per cent, of the faculty. 
I shall not here enter into the many arguments which can 
be urged against this system, but with great respect I would 
invite my confreres to unite together, and make a vigorous 
effort to bring about a better state of things. 
It appears to me, that as a sweeping measure of medical 
reform will soon be passed by Parliament, chemists should 
agitate for their rights, and form themselves into some kind 
of “ Chemists’ Defence Association,” the main object of which 
should be, to procure a legislative enactment by which medi¬ 
cal men shall be prohibited (except in special cases) from dis¬ 
pensing their own medicines, and be compelled to write their 
prescriptions, which shall be compounded by duly qualified 
chemists. It is really absurd that gentlemen, to be registered 
by Act of Parliament as chemists and druggists, should go 
through a course of education in chemistry, pharmacy, etc., 
be obliged to pass a strict examination by the Pharmaceutical 
Society, and yet have hardly any opportunities of engaging in 
their peculiar work, viz. the compounding of medicines. This 
is an anomaly which should not be allowed to exist much 
longer. I earnestly hope that the aggrieved chemists will con¬ 
sider this matter, and should any of them wish to communi¬ 
cate with me, I beg to say, that letters addressed to me, care 
of Mr. Judd, Chemist, Alcester, Kedditch, shall receive prompt 
attention. 
Your obedient servant, 
D. Carroll, LL.B., etc. 
J Registered Chemist (Exam.) 
June 13th, 1870. 
Sir, -—-I have anxiously read the reports of the General and 
Council Meetings, but, so far as I can learn from them, I 
have reason to believe that, except in the President’s speech, 
there has been no notice taken of the continued and untiring 
labours for a quarter of a century of Messrs. Squire and Mor- 
son as members of the Council, of the Board of Examiners, 
and each as three times President of the Society. 
I do not pretend to know how regularly these gentlemen 
have attended the various Committee meetings of late years, 
but I can testify that they have been most active, and well 
fitted for the honourable posts they have filled; and I can 
also most confidently assert that, but for the zeal and perse¬ 
verance of such as these, the Pharmaceutical Society would 
Jiaye sunk into oblivion. 
I should like some of the readers of this Journal to calcu¬ 
late how many hours, at the lowest estimate, these gentle¬ 
men have devoted to Council meetings, examinations, etc. 
etc., at Bloomsbury Square ; and without considering the 
money value of their time (which to men in business is great), 
I would remind them how large a proportion of their ordinary 
term of existence has been surrendered freely in our service, 
by forming, carrying on, and permanently establishing a sys¬ 
tem of education which otherwise we should not been able to 
avail ourselves of. 
I am, Sir, yours truly, 
, Charles J. L. Eussell. 
Windsor, July 9th, 1870. 
Anonymous Correspondence. 
„ think Mr. Eimmington has shown a great amount 
oi needless alarm on the subject of anonymous correspondence. 
1 believe that it is the best way of bringing “juvenile talent” 
out, to let the writers please themselves with regard to the name. 
A great amount of useful information would be missed, were 
f i “ anon .T mous correspondence allowed,” sent 
lortn by the editor. Many young men have not the courage 
to wnte their first articles when compelled to subscribe their 
real name. 
I remain. Sir, 
-r> , _ , “JuVENIS ET IMPERFECTUS.” 
Barnsley, July 6th, 1870. 
Dispensing by Medical Men. 
Sir, I have read with much interest the able letter of 
your correspondent “T. Mills, A.P.S.” in a recent number of 
the Journal. 
He forcibly sets forth the pitiable condition of a large 
number of chemists, who, though fully competent for their 
proper work, find it extremely difficult to eke out a subsist¬ 
Inquirer (Ipswich).—Under the Pharmacy Act of 1869, it 
is unlawful for any one, not being a registered chemist and 
druggist, to sell retail vermin-killers containing any of the 
substances therein referred to. 
Coating Fills .—An article on this subject will be found in 
Yol. III. s.s. p. 562. 
A Minor Associate (London) desires to find a good test for 
detecting the presence of geranium oil in otto of rose. 
R.M.S. (Islington).—Fresenius’s work is undoubtedly the 
best. 
W. U. Smith (Brighton).—The preparation of nitrite of 
amyle is described in the ‘Laboratory.’ It may be obtained 
from Eobbins (Oxford Street) or Bullock. 
A Constant Reader (Slough) desires to be informed as to 
the probable success of a pharmacist emigrating to Canada 
with a capital of £500 or £600 and a small family, cost of 
transit, etc. 
I. W. (Sheffield).—1. Sulphur is used in making mercurial 
plasters, with the object of effecting the subdivision of the 
metal. 2. Tannic acid is sparingly soluble in dry ether, as 
stated under the head “ Characters and Testsbut with 
ether containing water it forms a thick solution. See Watts’s 
‘ Dictionary of Chemistry,’ vol. ii. p. 760. 3. We are unable- 
to answer this. 
_ An Assistant (Leeds) writes to protest against the exclu¬ 
sion of anonymous correspondence, and urges that, in many 
cases, the writers’ only fault may be excessive modesty. 
Irwell (Hull).—The iron that will not dissolve may be used 
again, if necessary. 
A. Z. (Liverpool) is desirous of obtaining formula for pre¬ 
paring fruit essences, such as plum, raspberry, etc., which are 
mixtures of ethers and essential oils. 
“ An Age of Progress .”—Letters on this subject have been 
received from Mr. T. P. Gostling, Diss, Norfolk; J. B., Hull ^ 
A Provincial; and Mr. E. Goodwin Mumbray, Eichmond. 
W. D. Gibb (Winchester).—Eeceived with thanks. Shall 
have attention. 
A Country M. P. S .—We should be glad to hear from the 
writer, in confidence, on the subject of his excellent letter. 
Eugene Rimmel .—Eeceived with thanks. Too late for this 
week. 
E. G. Homer (Birmingham).—Handed to the Secretary. 
Poster Fide (Yarmouth post-mark).—We shall be glad to* 
hear further from the writer. 
Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the 
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Elias Brem- 
Ridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C. 
Advertisements to Messrs. Churchill, Neto Burlington 
Street, London, W. 
