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THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January H, 1371. 
of the clay, they are constantly employed at set duties, which 
allow them no time for reading during those hours. After 
business hours few, at present, have the means of acquiring that 
knowledge, which would be so easily attainable if there were 
a reading-room and library to which they could resort at any 
hour which suited their convenience. The periodical trade 
literature would cost but a trifle annually, and I know by 
past experience that the nucleus of a library is soon formed 
by donations from authors, publishers and employers, added 
to subscriptions got up among the members. It is also known 
that several of the employes in the trade are men whose 
attainments are such as would not fail to be most useful in 
the enlightenment of their less favoured brethren, could the}’ 
be prevailed upon to join in the exposition of the useful trade 
and scientific knowledge which they possess. 
Having communicated my idea of the desirableness of such 
an institution to three acquaintances holding a similar posi¬ 
tion in the trade to my own, it was determined that each of 
us should submit the following to his own private circle as 
the primary objects of a proposed Society, but our personal 
canvass was so very unsuccessful that the matter was aban¬ 
doned after the second meeting at my private residence. 
1st. To enroll any member of the wholesale drug trade who 
had been employed in any drug house for a period of five years 
as an associate of the Society, and to provide, in return for a 
small monthly subscription, a meeting and reading-room, to 
which every associate would have access at any time. 
2nd. To institute a series of readings by those members of 
the Society able and willing to contribute articles of trade 
interest. 
3rd. To facilitate the acquirement of trade knowledge by 
opening a register, in which any member might request the 
advice and information of the other members on any subject 
connected with the trade. 
4th. To keep a record of all vacancies occurring in the 
trade, and to furnish employers with a ready means of at 
once selecting servants suitable to their wants. 
oth. To undertake to expose and prosecute any dishonesty 
on the part of any of its members. 
I may set down the failure of the movement—(1.) To the 
difficulty of getting a sufficient number of co-operators to 
promote it, by throwing in their energies and the small ad¬ 
vance of cash (a few shillings each at most) necessary to set 
it going. (2.) An expression of fear that employers would 
misconstrue the aims of such an undertaking (3.) An appa¬ 
rent feeling of rivalry between the men of the various whole¬ 
sale houses. 
In making the above hurried jottings of what was a private 
effort to do good, I write in the hope that some one may now 
come forward with sufficient energy to ensure the success 
of so desirable an institution. 
88, Campbell Road, Bow, O. Davies Owes. 
21th Dec. 1870. 
Deuggists’ Chaeges. 
Sir,—Having seen much in the Journal lately concerning 
the above, I beg to lay before your readers the state of things 
not many miles distant from Hull. Two cases have recently 
come under my notice I think worth making known. In the 
first, a 3 oz. bottle of drops was dispensed at a chemist’s, and 
charged 2s. 6d. On taking the prescription to a Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Chemist by Examination, the patient was asked what 
had been the former charge. The reply was 2s. 6 d. To 
which the pharmacist replied, “ Oh! but we will let you have 
it for 9 d.” There can only be one inference drawn from this, 
either that the chemist was actually a loser by the transaction 
or that the patient was the sufferer. The second case was that 
of an 8 and 6 oz. mixture, dispensed and charged respectively 
2s. and Is. 8 d. The lady looked rather astonished, and was 
asked if she had paid less, the answer being that she had been 
charged 9 d. each, but on going the second time was informed 
that they could not make them up again for the same price ; 
the charge must be Is. 9 d. the two. The lady added that 
she did not mind giving more for them, providing they did 
her more good than the last, which had not done her any 
good. This was not to be wondered at, seeing that the bare 
retail price of the ingredients came to about 2s. 6d. for both 
bottles. If this state of things continue, I see no chance 
whatever of the rising generation of young chemists making 
a living. One oe the Rising Geneeation. 
Obscuee Peesceiptions. 
Sir,—The following enigmatical recipe was brought, some 
years ago, to a shop in a country town within fifty mile 3 of 
London, to be “ made up.” I secured the original, of which 
I give a copy verbatim et literatim :— 
Oil of koors ham 
Oil of hope ham An 
Oil of Anni seed 
Oil of St. eppes. 
The above recipe was distinctly and carefully written, but 
except the aniseed, we were unable to identify the ingredients. 
If “ hope ham An ” mean opium, the “ oil ” is still perplexing 
the other ingredients seem quite apocryphal. The purpose 
of this mixture was to mix with food for cattle; the propor¬ 
tions being left to the judgment of the chemist, and it was 
judiciously compounded accordingly; not, however, without 
a shrewd suspicion that it was designed to excite in certain 
specimens of the equine race an unnatural taste for “ Chaff,” 
to the possible advantage of some preternaturally clever, but 
not overscrupulous “Johnny.” 
January 6th, 1871. F. D. 
The Libeaet. 
Sir,—I have of late frequently heard the question asked by 
students at Bloomsbury Square, if it were not possible for the 
Library to be kept open an hour or two longer. If it were 
closed at eight o’clock, instead of six o’clock, as at present, I 
think it would meet the approval of the students generally 
many of whom would gladly avail themselves of the advan¬ 
tages there offered, which they cannot obtain elsewhere. I 
would ask the Council, on their behalf, to take the matter into 
consideration. 
I would also invite the opinion of gentlemen interested in 
the Monthly Evening Meetings, respecting the time fixed for 
their commencement, whether or not it is the most conve¬ 
nient for the majority of members and others ? I know many 
gentlemen state they should attend much oftener, but being 
compelled to be home at a certain time, they are generally 
under the necessity of leaving before the conclusion of the- 
meeting. 
Dec. 12th, 1870. Student. 
[* # # Formerly the library was kept open as our correspon¬ 
dent recommends, but this arrangement was given up in con¬ 
sequence of the small number of readers using it in those hours. 
We would recommend “ Student ” to forward any suggestions 
he may have to make on the subject to the Council.— Ed. Ph. 
Jouen.] 
“ Indoctus” (Bolton).—Cooley’s ‘ Cyclopaedia of Practical 
Receipts ’ may be obtained through any bookseller. 
G. R. —The label sent would require to be stamped. Every 
reference to dose and medical treatment must be omitted. 
D. Y. N. (Barnsley).—We do not undertake to give advice 
as to the study of midwifery. Our correspondent had better 
apply to the editor of one of the medical journals. 
We have received, enclosed in a note from Southampton, 
the initials to which appear to be H. M., a contrivance by 
which a simple india-rubber band is used to secure the stopper 
of a poison-bottle after it is withdrawn, and so to attract the 
attention of the dispenser. 
T. C. (Sheffield Moor).—We are obliged for your communi¬ 
cation, but, as it stands, it would appear too much like an ad¬ 
vertisement of a particular maker’s preparation. 
“Alpha’s ” wants will probably be supplied by the pump, 
unless he is joking. 
“ 31edicina.” —The question as it stands is too vague for 
insertion. 
Messrs. Coates and Wallcer. —The letter and stamps hav e 
been handed to the publishers. To secure insertion, all adver¬ 
tisements should be sent direct to Messrs. J. and A. Churchill, 
New Burlington Street. 
Communications, Lettees, etc., have been received from 
Mr. A.W. Bennett, Messrs. Cox and Co. (Brighton), Mr. J.Ince, 
Mr. H. J. Owen, Mr. S. R. Atkins (Salisbury), Mr. J. M‘Canr, 
Mr. W. W. Stoddart (Bristol), “Conia” (Leeds), “ R- 
doctus,” “ F. D.,” “ M. P. S.,” “ S. D. ” (Bow), “ H.” (Heck- 
mondwike), « W. F. C.” (Buckley), “E. F.” (Folkestone). 
