October 20,1670.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
350 
assed a highly scientific examination, have not the least 
esire to do so. Had he been addressing his note to an inde¬ 
pendent journal there might have been some need of such a 
full explanation regarding the curriculum for these large 
minds; but, as the letter appeared in our Journal, I contend 
that all of us knew, in all probability, as much about the 
-examination for Fellows as “Aspirant” did; hence I main¬ 
tain the great desire of parading his status before our eyes, 
which, however, he flatly denies. 
It seems to me an injustice not to grant a similar diploma 
to the one given to men simply on account of their being in 
business prior to the Act of 1868 to all who have gone in for 
and come out from the “ very modified affair.” The whole 
tenor of “ Aspirant’s ” ill-wind has been directed against 
Modified men (he forgetting those who have not passed any 
■examination); consequently I have taken upon myself, as 
much as lies in my power, their defence, in the hope that 
abler hands will render assistance, seeing that we are con¬ 
stantly being slighted. 
I suppose it is perfectly understood that all men in busi¬ 
ness prior to the late Pharmacy Act (whether old or young) 
are entitled to become members, to sit on the Council (if 
elected), and to have a “grand flaming diploma;” whereas 
we, the “Modified men,” are not entitled to any one of the 
former, but, whether old or young, we are allowed to pass the 
Minor (I believe) and Major Examinations, and then we can 
assume the same titles as our scientific brethren, but on no 
account can the law be relaxed towards us (as I think it was 
with regard to Assistants), so that we might be on a par, not 
with Pharmaceutical Chemists, but with members of the 
Society. 
Barnsley, October 11 th, 1870. Omega. 
* Sir,—I put in a plea for the “ Modified gentlemen,” as they 
arc called; certainly I shall never forget the scene which I 
-witnessed in the Society’s Library on the morning of the ex¬ 
amination day on which I was present. There were fifty 
men, most of whom had been dragged out of the even tenor 
of their way from all parts of the country; some of them con¬ 
siderably over thirty years of age, with business settlements 
and prospects, to show reason why they should call them¬ 
selves “ Chemists.” From several I heard tales of real suffer¬ 
ing and hardships, the inevitable results of retrospective legis¬ 
lation. 
And now, to find youthful “ aspirants ” tauntingly write of 
“retiring dispositions,” “very modified conclusion,” etc., 
must to some be rather irritating, and warrants the remark 
that such expressions are neither dignified nor brotherly. 
For my own part, it was of little consequence to me whether 
one examiner told me that I could read a Latin prescription, 
•or another, that I knew one tincture from another, when for 
more than ten years I have either personally or by deputy 
dispensed about eighty prescriptions a day. I base my claim 
(and so I feel persuaded do all my Modified friends) to be a 
Chemist and Druggist, not upon having passed the Modified 
Examination, but upon having honourably served a term of 
apprenticeship to the business. Personally I should scorn to 
■write up “ Chemist by Examination of the Pharmaceutical 
■Society.” It is untruthful, because intended to convey more 
than the truth. 
“Alpha” (1). 
Sir,—“Aspirant to the Major” speaks patronizingly of the 
“very modified curriculum” through which the Modified 
gentlemen have to pass; leading any one to regard such an 
examination as a mere farce, and in reality no test at all. I 
would ask if this be complimentary to the Council of.the 
Pharmaceutical Society ? They have instituted this examina¬ 
tion professedly for the purpose of testing our ability, and are 
we to conclude that gentlemen in the capacity of examiners 
will waste their time in conducting a sham ? If it be no test, 
why does it exist? I think by referring to “Omega’s” 
■letters, “ Aspirant ” will find that he chiefly complains of the 
injustice of established Chemists and Druggists, who have 
not passed any examination (not even excepting the “ very 
modified test”), being admitted Members of the Society; 
whereas we, who have also complied with the requirements 
of the Pharmacy Act (though belonging to those of retiring 
dispositions), are only admitted as Associates. This is the 
objection. Place us upon terms of equality with those who 
were in business prior to 1868, and we shall be satisfied. 
Barnsley, October 19 th, 1870. “Alpha” (2). 
Feeding Bottles. 
Sir,—In connection with the subject of infants’ feeding- 
bottles allow me to draw your attention to the following 
important statement, which appears in the official report of 
the Hon. Mr. Thurlow to the Foreign Office, on the Inter¬ 
national Exhibition of Domestic Economy held at Amsterdam 
last year, concerning an infants’ feeding-bottle exhibited there. 
L. M. 
“ This infants’ feeding-bottle meets with so much demand 
in Lancashire, where I am told its sale is counted by several 
hundreds of thousands each year, and indeed on the Conti¬ 
nent, wherever it has been introduced, that I could not but 
regard it as my duty to inquire of Professor Gunning, the 
Government Analyst at Amsterdam, the reasons which had 
led to its condemnation. These reasons were kindly given to 
me, promptly and without reserve; and the question being 
one, in which it is of the first importance, to challenge criti¬ 
cism, and by all means to arrive at the truth, I do not hesi¬ 
tate to quote them in translation, leaving the further discus¬ 
sion of the knotty points involved to the scientific world. 
With these objections, which probably apply more or less to 
all infants’ feeding-bottles made upon the same principle, I 
shall close this review of Class IV.:— 
“ ‘I object to the ‘infants’ feeding-bottles’ in all instances 
when any part of them is composed of caoutchouc, or any like 
material. There is nothing so ill suited to the constitution 
of the human body as the material in question. Milk, which 
by contact is only slightly tainted with the smell thereof, 
although this is, perhaps, imperceptible to the keenest sense, 
must have lost a portion of its quality of quick and easy diges¬ 
tion. 
“ ‘ When, in consequence of suction, the pores of the caout¬ 
chouc are enlarged, some portion of milk always remains be¬ 
hind in them, which cannot, or at least cannot without great 
difficulty, be removed. This milk quickly becomes bad, and 
spoils the fresh milk with which it comes in contact. The 
caoutchouc material in question is made up of several ingre¬ 
dients. White zinc or white lead is very commonly employed, 
w T hich are very poisonous. My objections are not founded 
exclusively on a priori conclusion. In this country many 
fatal cases have happened among infants, which, on solid 
grounds, may be ascribed to the use of these bottles.’ ” 
Hydraulic Presses por Tinctures. 
Sir,—In the very useful and interesting article on Tinc¬ 
tures bv Mr. Umney, found in this week’s Journal, he men¬ 
tions the use of the hydraulic press for the recovery of the 
solvent. There can be no question as to the great saving 
that would be effected by this means as compared with the 
screw. 
The hydraulic press is a very simple • piece of mechanism. 
I greatly wonder that no mechanician has introduced a handy 
little press, suitable for tinctures in quantities of from 2 to 4 
quarts. Is it not worth some one’s while to think of it ? By 
the bye, is Mr. Umney right in attributing a loss of 37'5 per¬ 
cent. to the preparation of tinct. zingiberis fort. ? 
Manchester, Oct. 22nd, 1870. J. T. Slugg. 
Hospital Dispensing. 
Sir,—Allow me a few words in reply to Mr. Fitch. 
I did not intend the remark “ greasy card” to apply to his 
case, although if he will examine the patient’s card at this 
date I feel sure he will find it in that state. 
Upon the second or third visit to the surgeon, the card is 
generally unfit to write upon. If Mr. Fitch understood hos¬ 
pital work, he would not rush to print his single complaint. 
The majority of cases are greatly exaggerated. 
Scores of patients never intend and never do take the 
medicine given. All bottles ought, of course, to be properly 
labelled. 
I have had posted in the -waiting-room the following 
Notice. 
“ Send for medicines as early as possible after the visit ot 
the surgeon as the dispensary hours permit. 
“ Bring clean bottles, etc. Take the corks out of the 
bottles. Let all labels remain on the bottles. Medicines will 
not be given to children.” 
With Mr. Fitch, I hail with pleasure the “ good time com* 
ing,” but it will not be in his time nor mine. 
Edward Barbee. 
83, Devonshire Street, Sheffield. 
