340 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 22, 1370 . 
tion” we occupy, and our intelligent appreciation" thereof, 
the learned doctor may find an illustration in the corre¬ 
spondence which appears in your weekly columns. The che¬ 
mists would not have assumed the defensive had it not been 
for the unscrupulous attacks of the Lancet, which are not 
only insulting to an educated body of men, but amount to a 
gratuitous olfence against the good manners that regulate 
our social system. 
Non-Malcontent. 
Brighton Chemists’ Prices versus Brighton 
Chemists’ Association. 
Sir,—Having read in the Journal a letter of Mr. W. D. 
Savage on the Brighton Chemists’ Association, I wish to offer 
a few remarks in connection with that subject. 
Having been for the last few months in Brighton, I have 
become acquainted with the “cutting” system prevalent 
there, of which I give the following instances:— 
A six-ounce saline mixture for (id. A quarter of a pound 
of tartaric acid for 4%d. Epsom salts, two ounces for Id. 
Prepared chalk, 14 oz. for Id. Camphorated chalk, 3d. per oz. 
Citrate of magnesia, 2d. per oz., etc. 
Now, I am persuaded that where the trade is divided 
against itself by such a sj'stem of underselling no Chemists’ 
Association will stand, and no brotherly feeling can possibly 
exist. 
A Pharmaceutical Student. 
Specieic Gravities and Volume Measures. 
Sir,—In your report of the discussion, which followed the 
reading of my papers on “Specific Gravities and Volume 
Measures” at the Pharmaceutical Conference, it was stated 
that “the contents per ounce were coincident with the specific 
gravity” (solid contents being referred to). On making re¬ 
ference to my notes and memoranda, I find that as regards 
the class of fluids I have been operating on this rule does 
not apply, or make any approximation to the truth, and, 
therefore, the statement ought to be corrected. 
As examples I will give two or three instances :— 
Vin. Ipecacuanhee, sp. gr. 0-993.solid contents, 19-2 peroz. 
Tinct. Hyoscyami „ 0-937. „ „ 18-35 „ 
Tinct. Opii „ 0-940. „ „ 18-79 „ 
Dec. Sarsce Co. „ 1-027. „ „ 50*00 ., 
As applied to solutions of sugar and salts the approximation 
will be closer. A solution of pure sugar containing 30 grs. 
to the ounce has a sp. gr. of 1-028. 
F. M. Rimmington. 
Ung. Aq. Rosas and Tincturje. 
Sir,—As medical gentlemen occasionally order ung. aq.rosce 
in their prescriptions, is it not desirable that dispensers should 
have a recognized formula for it P Nearly every establishment 
having its own recipe and modus operandi, each would pre¬ 
pare a prescription containing the above differently from every 
other; a result not at all in accordance with “'uniformity in 
physic.” 
The Pharmacopee Franeaise contains a formula, and (if I 
were F. instead of A. P. S.) I would suggest the follow¬ 
ing modification for insertion in a future edition of the 
B. P. 
Cerm Albse §j 
Cetacei 
Olei Amygdalae f^x 
Aquae Rosie f^iij 
Tinct. Benzoini uixx. E. s. a. 
The benzoin and the small quantity of aqua render it less 
liable to change than -would be the case were the former 
omitted or the latter augmented, and that is a desideratum 
in a pharmacopoeial preparation. 
V hile I am on the theme of the B. P., perhaps you will 
permit me to say it is my opinion, founded on observation 
and practice, that it would add much to attaining “ uni¬ 
formity in physic ” if tinctures were required to be kept at 
least one month before being used, so as to allow time for 
that peculiar change to take place which most vegetable solu¬ 
tions undergo. Tinct. aurantii, for instance, when prepared, 
either by maceration or percolation, from recently dried peel 
or from fresh peel, grows much darker and developes a finer 
flavour after three or four weeks. Of coiu-se the remedy for 
this, in respect of colour, is to use stale peel in which that 
resinous change, alluded to in Pharm. Journ. Vol. NI. p. 
604, has taken place. But there is no remedy, except time, 
for others, such as squills, colchicum, etc. 
Now with regard to tinct. calumbre, why not use the root 
in coarse powder instead of “ cut small ” ? the result is far more 
satisfactory. The colour is richer because more calumbate of 
berberine (?) is taken up, and there is little or no amylaceous 
deposit. 
The mortar instead of the knife is resorted to in the case of 
tinct. rhei, a proceeding which, at one time, would have been 
thought very unpharmaceutical. 
H. E. Godfrey. 
“ Ignorans ” (Tamworth).—Sulphate of lime and caustic 
potash would be formed. 
C. C. (Taunton).—(1.) Ten ounces. (2.) In London to send 
ten ounces. 
M. P.S. (Liverpool).—The dilute acid is obviously intended. 
We should dispense the prescription with this acid. 
A. P. S. (Liverpool).— SARSAPARILLA "AND QTTI- 
NINE.—(1.) Add the simple fluid extract of the B. P. to a 
solution of the quinine in a slight excess of dilute sulphuric 
acid. (2.) Probably a combination of quinine with astringent 
matter. Filtration would not be justifiable. 
“A Cliftonian ,> (Windsor).—We know of no form for this 
preparation. We should suppose 1 to 5 a convenient prepa¬ 
ration. 
G. JI. U. (Helensburgh).—(1) GLYCERINE CREAM. 
Beat almonds into a thick emulsion with water, strain, dilute, 
and add q. s. glycerine and otto. (2) We know of no such 
preparation, but it might be readily made by dissolving 5 grains 
of the scaly preparation in each drachm of water. 
T. H. C. (Southsea).—We cannot explain the difference. 
The appearance should be that described as belonging to the 
lotion dispensed by yourself. 
A. F. J. (Norwich).—We confess to being not philoso¬ 
phical enough to answer your question. 
“(Englishman ” (Leamington). — Wanklyn and Smith’s 
Water Analysis, Bowman’s Medical Chemistry. 
G. K. (Surbiton) and Caradoc Jones (Ebbw Vale) are 
informed that an article giving advice to students preparing 
to pass the examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society has 
been reprinted, and may be had on application to the Regis¬ 
trar. 
“Inquirer ” (Pontypool).—Such sale is not illegal, prus- 
siate of potash not being a poison. 
We have received a communication from Mr. Condy, which 
shall receive early attention. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. T. B. Groves (Weymouth), Mr. C. Umney (London), Mr. 
F. P. Balkwill (Plymouth), *Mr. J. R. Faulkner (London), Mr. 
F. Buck (Chelmsford), Manager of the Floriline Company, 
The Committee of the Burgoyne Testimonial, Mr. Chapman 
(Manchester), Messrs. Jones and Son (Worksop), Mr. Wood 
(Barnsley), Mr. Reynolds (Leeds), Mr. C. E. C. Tichborne 
(Dublin). 
The following journals have been received:—The ‘British 
Medical Journal,’ Oct. 15; the ‘Medical Times and Gazette,’ 
Oct. 15; the ‘Lancet,’ Oct. 15; ‘Nature,’ Oct. 13; the ‘Che¬ 
mical News,’ Oct. 14; ‘Journal of the Society of Arts,’ Oct. 
13; ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle,’ Oct. 15; the ‘Grocer,’ Oct. 15; 
the‘English Mechanic,’ Oct. 15; the ‘New York Drug¬ 
gists’ Circular ’ for October, from Mr. Deane: the ‘ Baltimore 
Gazette,’ Sept. 17; the ‘Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal’ 
for September; the ‘ Journal of Materia Medica ’ for August 
and September; ‘Neues Jahrbuch fiir Pharmacie,’ numbers 
for February, March, April, May, June, July, and August, 
from the Editor. 
Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the 
transmission of the Journal should he sent to Elias Brem- 
ridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C. 
Advertisements to Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington ■ 
Street, London , 7F. Envelopes to he endorsed for “ Pharm . 
Journ.” 
