160 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 20, 1870 . 
Many years since, I had the honour of suggesting a very 
simple expedient, which, during a long experience, has been 
found truly effective. It is merely to place the labels of 
dangerous poisons perpendicularly on the bottle instead of in 
the usual manner, which, in some instances, prevents half 
the inscription being read. Having adopted this plan in my 
shop for very many years, without the occurrence of a single 
accident, I venture to recommend it to my brother phar¬ 
macists. The appearance of certain bottles thus distinguished 
from their fellows frequently calls forth the notice of intelli¬ 
gent persons, both medical and otherwise, thus tr. opii and 
mist, senna; co., tr. aconiti and tr. myrrhse, acid, arseniosum 
and p. antim. co., stand side by side, in perfect safety. Like 
the red light upon the railway, everybody knows the signal 
of danger and respects it accordingly. 
I remain, yours faithfully, 
P. Goodwin Mumbray. 
14 a, Sill Rise, Richmond, S. IF. 
August 10, 1870. 
Our Responsibilities. 
Sir,—No further information appears in the last number of 
the Journal respecting the case of “ Damages against a Drug¬ 
gist,” at Liverpool, reported and commented on in previous 
number. If we are to be exposed to actions and convicted 
on such flimsy evidence as appears to have been relied on in 
that case, then ours is a most unenviable position. If the 
defendant does not appeal against what appears to be a mis¬ 
carriage of justice, do not the common interests of the trade 
require that the case should be further investigated ? One 
such case successfully prosecuted will lead to others, and we 
shall soon be having every old lady who may take a dose of 
castor oil, and “feel sick after it,” wishing to try the effect of 
the very comforting antidotes they administer so freely at the 
“ Court of Passage,” in Liverpool. 
By the way, the case goes to show that sal volatile and liq. 
potassae must find then’ place in the poison-cupboard,—that 
very comprehensive receptacle “ set apart for dangerous 
articles.” I am, etc., 
London, August 9, 1870. George Pattison. 
[#** Yfc are informed by the Local Secretary for Liverpool, 
that the bottles in Mr. Trilfield’s shop are well-labelled, the 
bottle for the Aq. Cinnam. has a good gold label, and that for 
the Liq. Potassas is one of a series with labels engraved in the 
glass.—E d. Ph. J.] 
“Rule of Thumb.” 
Sir,—May I again trespass on your space with a few words 
in reply to “ J. Houlton” ? 
He asserts that there is more “cry than wool” in the 
letters published on the above subject. I think not. I can¬ 
not see why a grain of calomel is not to be weighed equally 
with 5ij of magnesia. Measurement being an accurate mode 
of dispensing, while guessing is inaccurate, the public will 
certainly have little confidence in any hap-hazard method of 
preparing medicines. I still contend that it is the impera¬ 
tive duty of the pharmacist in all cases to rely upon his 
scales rather than his eye. 
As to “ Trade Grievances,” there seems really to be “ much 
ado about nothing.” The plain fact is that pharmacy, pure 
and simple, will not afford a living to the country pharmacist, 
and consequently he must of dire necessity become a general 
dealer in perfumery, oils and colours, articles of grocery, 
etc., so as, by hook or by crook, to earn enough to keep body 
and soul together. At present pharmacy is a profession 
that does not afford professional remuneration to many of 
those engaged in it, who thus resemble poor noblemen, who, 
with all the distinction afforded by titles, lack the fortune to 
support them. 
Yours, etc., 
August 1 6th, 1870. Minor Associate. 
“Pharmaceutical Titles.” 
Sir,—It has for some time been matter of surprise to me 
that so little attention has been drawn to the subject of 
“Pharmaceutical Titles.” 
I allude to the different degrees of honour contained in the 
names of “ Pharmaceutical Chemist,” “ Chemist and Drug¬ 
gist,” etc., adopted by those to whom these names belong 
either by examination or by registration. 
My surprise is excited by the little notice taken of en¬ 
croachments on the advantages attaching to the higher dis¬ 
tinction made by those who, having never passed the “Major” 
Examination of the Society, cannot claim the privilege of 
calling themselves “ Pharmaceutical Chemists,” but neverthe¬ 
less resort to means by which they may mystify the public 
(who are, in this matter, only half taught), and so prevent 
their recognizing a difference between the man who passes a 
high scientific Examination (as the Major) and one who 
merely “ goes in ” for the “ Modified.” 
I do not say that those who thus make the most of their 
attainments do anything wdiich is not strictly legitimate, for 
they surely have a perfect right to take advantage of their 
position as far as it will go. 
But the grievance lies in the fact that their privileges are 
too nearly identical with those of their more distinguished 
brethren. 
Who (that is not connected with the business) could un¬ 
derstand the difference between “ Pharmaceutical Chemist ” 
and “ Chemist by Examination of the Pharmaceutical So¬ 
ciety ” ? and I find the latter term, to which they have a per¬ 
fect right, is coming into use amongst those who have passed 
the “Minor” or “Modified” Examinations. 
Now, Sir, is it fair to him who works hard to succeed in the 
three Examinations of the Society, paying a considerable 
sum as fees, besides numerous other expenses, to let another 
who “ gets through ” what is generally acknowledged to be a 
very “ modified ” form of questioning, reap equal advantage,, 
so far as public opinion goes ? 
I am glad to see that the matter has already been started: 
in the Journal by others, who think, as myself, that this sub¬ 
ject should no longer be neglected. 1 would strongly counsel 
the adoption of the title “Fellow of the Pharmaceutical 
Society,” for indicating the great distinction between “ Major” 
and “ Minor ” Associates, and think this would—to a great 
extent, at least—meet the w*ants and desires of the great body 
of the former, and also of those who aspire to attaining 
eventually “ the top of the tree.” 
I would wish to add “ one word ” to those who are desirous,, 
with me, of this amendment in the laws of the Society, and 
that is “ agitate,” and so try to induce those in whom the 
power of alteration lies to consider the best means of confer¬ 
ring upon such a large portion of the members of the body 
this great desideratum. 
Hoping this subject will not now be allowed to drop and i 
pass into oblivion, j 
I am, Sir, yours obediently, 
An Aspirant to the Major. 
"Evaporation in vacuo without an Air-pump. —A corre¬ 
spondent has reminded us that the method recommended by 
Mr. A. B. Prescott, as quoted in the Pharm. Journ. for 
August 6, is identical in principle, and the arrangement of 
the apparatus essentially similar, to that described by the 
late Mr. J. T. Barry in the Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, 
vol. x. (1819) part 1.—See also Pharm. Journ. Yol. VI. 
(1865), 30. 
“A Mmor Associate.” —Questions are sometimes put to 
test the candidate’s powers of “ guessing.” 
“ Qucesitor.” —See Yol. Y. n. s. pp. 408 and 462. The Editor 
of the last edition seems to think the presence of a little free 
carbonic acid gas an advantage. As a domestic remedy, we 
think the public prefer the flavour of that made with the 
carbonate. 
“Inquirer ” (Farnham).—We should use the B.P. fluid 
extract unless “ Battley’s ” name were mentioned. Many 
London prescribers of the present day prefer the term “ liquor” 
for bark, taraxacum, sarsaparilla, etc., as being shorter to 
write, and less liable to the possibility of confusion with the 
old extracts. 
Arthur Bolas (Birmingham).—Yes, if the excess of nitric 
acid used in preparing the “ liquor ” be not driven off. See 
Squire’s ‘ Companion to the Pharmacopoeia,’ p. 121. 
S. L., M.P.S. (Horton) will find that the formula he re¬ 
quires has been already given in the ‘Pharmaceutical 
Journal,’ o. s. Yol. XVIII. p. 579. 
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, New Burlington 
Street, London, W. Envelopes to be endorsed for “ Pharm - 
Journ.” 
