520 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 24 ,1370. 
The Alleged Exorbitant Charge for Dispensing. 
Sir,—I have been waiting to see if the editor of the Lancet, 
in answer to your letter of the 30th ult., would “ make more 
fully known the facts of the particular overcharge ” which 
led to this discussion. His only reply is a foot-note, which 
says, “our correspondent merely relates a fact regarding the 
conduct of an individual.” The public and the daily press 
have, however, taken this to he a sample of the “ extortionate 
charges ” of chemists generally, and we have cut a very sorry 
figure indeed when compared with “lawyers, horsedealers 
and brigands.” But as the Lancet deigns to give you no ex¬ 
planation, I now venture to inform you that the “ druggist ” 
who charged 24s. for 36 oz. of mixture, as narrated by “ Pre- 
scriber,” is a medical practitioner keeping an open shop. 
Comment is distasteful and unnecessary, but we may fairly 
complain that our reputation as a class has been damaged by 
an anonymous communication, and all discussion on the merits 
of the case stifled. The letter was written no doubt bond fide, 
but an important fact was unwittingly omitted, and the result 
is an injury which cannot be repaired. I venture to say that no 
chemist in the kingdom would charge more than 2s. for this 
particular 6 oz. mixture; the more universal price at shops of 
the highest respectability would be Is. 6d., and this fact may 
be gathered from “ Prescriber’s” own words. Having written 
thus much, my authority may be demanded, and it may, per¬ 
haps, save time if I say that the prescription was brought to 
me, and the price I quoted was Is. 6 d .; the bill complained 
of was afterwards put into my hands, and, I believe, that I cha¬ 
racterized the charge as very exceptionally high and excessive. 
Wigmore Street, Dec. 19 th, 1870. Wm. Matthews. 
The leading dispensing establishments, both in town and 
country, have prices which almost correspond, and, takino- a 
conscientious view of such prices, I don’t think they will be- 
found at all exorbitant. Good houses are particular in 
having experienced hands that can do their work well, paying 
them good salaries in return, and are most careful that the 
drugs used are pure and genuine, consequently they ought to 
have a fair price for strictly carrying out their duties. 
In Mr. Robert Howden's very elaborate paper, published 
in the Journal of Saturday last, we are informed of the prices 
obtained in the United States for dispensing; there the 
pharmacist generally charges about sixpence an ounce for 
medicines, that is, three shillings for a six-ounce mixture. 
These prices are considerably above ours, why should such 
be the case ? Is pharmacy more of a profession there than 
in England ? In Ireland the apothecaries’ prices are also- 
above ours; but I don’t think the same complaints are heard 
tliei*e as we hear in London and the English provinces. In 
conclusion, I would beg to suggest that upon no account 
ought one pharmacist cut below another in dispensing prices. 
Let us try and follow each other as much as possible. This 
could easily be done by having one recognized private mark, 
and let the first house which compounds a prescription mark 
the price accordingly, and let all others who receive it after 
follow that price. This system is adopted by several good 
houses, and is found to be of great service when the mark is 
known. Some use the words “Mel Boracis,” others some 
other term ; but if we had one special mark to work from, the 
effect would be most beneficial. It would put a stop to the 
impositions which we so often find customers attempting. 
Neivcastle, Dec. 14 >th, 1870. John Dowling Allman. 
Remedy for the Toothache. 
Sir,—In the Journal of the 10th, page 466, you recommend 
carbolic acid to be applied to the inside of the tooth when the 
nerve is exposed. May I be allowed to suggest, as an efficient 
improvement and addition, which I have found very effi¬ 
cacious ? viz. equal parts of collodion and Calvert’s acid, car¬ 
bolic. applied to the part affected, say twice a week, after 
nervous sensibility has ceased, then mastic and chloroform 
applied afterwards on cotton wool, have given permanent relief. 
Sudbury, Dec. 17 th, 1870. J. Barker. 
Druggists’ Charges. 
Sir,—Druggists’ charges have been a topic for some time, 
and although many letters have appeared, it does not seem 
that they have led to any definite result. 
Several of your correspondents have complained of the 
cutting system carried on in some neighbourhoods, and 
naturally ask what is to be done to prevent such practice. 
They say prescriptions are frequently handed to them by 
persons to know the price, who, when informed on that 
point, reply that your neighbour Mr. So-and-so made it 
up for half the amount. I have had a good many years’ 
experience in some of the first-class dispensing establish¬ 
ments, both in London and country, and have frequently ex¬ 
perienced remarks of the same kind, and have, on many occa¬ 
sions, found that such statements were not correct. The 
remedy in a case of dispute is simple. Eirst read the pre¬ 
scription, then state the cost, and, if disputed, don’t give way, 
but leave the option in the hand of the customer. If informed 
that some other house has compounded it at a much lower 
price, advise that it be taken there. As to the truth of such 
a statement, you can judge from the respectability of the 
house. If it be one of any standing, it will be incorrect; if 
not, don’t waste time by saying that drugs supplied there 
cannot be of the same genuine character that we use. If this 
system bo carried out, it will, I believe, go far towards put¬ 
ting down the indiscriminate and mean practice of cutting. 
It is well known that a cutting house does not compound 
many prescriptions, in fact but few, for confidence is lost, 
and it is often found that a prescription comes back to the 
house from which, on account of charge, it had been taken. 
This I have several times experienced. As regards fixing 
prices for dispensing with a view to uniformity, it cannot be 
done, for physicians do not prescribe alike; some write very 
simple and inexpensive prescriptions, with eight doses in 
the eight-ounce bottle, then the usual charge will answer. 
Others, however, write for sixteen doses, while the ingredients 
are more costly. In these cases discretion and prudence must 
be exercised. Pepsine, quinine and other expensive drugs may 
be in large proportion, consequently the charge must be ac¬ 
cording. 
Spiritus TEtheris Nitrosi. 
Sir,—In the report of the Transactions of the Liverpool 
Chemists’ Association, appearing in the Journal of the 10th 
instant, in the discussion upon Spiritus fEtheris Nitrosi, I am 
reported to have said, “ I could not understand why a con¬ 
centrated solution could not be made ;” such a remark I did 
not make, and it is evidently a misunderstanding on the part 
of the Secretary taking his notes. On the contrary, I con¬ 
demned the practice of wholesale houses supplying the article, 
not only because I found it impossible to obtain a solution, 
containing 80 per cent, of pure nitrous ether (which would be 
the required strength), but also, because it is impossible to 
keep a concentrated solution without its soon becoming 
strongly acid. 
Absence from town precluded the possibility of my correct¬ 
ing the error at our last meeting, I shall therefore be glad if 
you will insert this in your next issue. 
Dec. 14 th, 1870. " G. J. Bawl and. 
Information Wanted. 
Sir,—I have received to-day a prescription with the follow¬ 
ing article in it— 
Mag. Ferri et Quin. Sulph. 5iiss. 
The above was written very distinctly, and had been ob¬ 
tained at Messrs. Hitchcocks, of Oxford; perhaps they, 
through your columns, would give some information as to 
the composition of the article. E. B. 
L. V. D .—Persons passing the Modified Examination are 
not entitled to call themselves, or be addressed as, Pharma¬ 
ceutical Chemists. Registered Chemists and Druggists may 
open as many branch establishments of their business as they 
please. 
R. Hall (Camborne).—They may be obtained of any scien¬ 
tific instrument maker. 
Pharmaceutical Chemist (Northampton), W. P. (Scar¬ 
borough), 31. P. S. (Southport), Bes Facta (Bristol), are re¬ 
ferred to the rule respecting anonymous communications. 
F. Smith (Torquay).—Arrangements are being made for 
the issue of cases; we hope to be able to publish the details 
in our next number. 
In consequence of press of matter, we are obliged to omit 
answers to several correspondents. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. H. Machon (Saffron Walden), Mr. J. B. Leslie (Sheffield), 
Mr. Barker (Sudbury), Mr. Maleham (Sheffield), Mr. H. Hint 
(Cork), Mr. Gregory (Stockton-on-Tees), Mr. Collier (Shef¬ 
field Moor), Mr. W. A. Thirlby, Mr. Fairlie (Glasgow), M. 
M. (Ramsgate), W. L. G. (St. Austell), A. (Carlisle), S. D. Q-, 
“ Grey Hairs,” “Aliquis,” “ Kapha,” “Nemo.” 
