840 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[April 15, 1871. 
Carospttact 
*** No notice can be talcen of anonymous communica¬ 
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬ 
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily 
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith. 
Poison Regulations. 
Sir,—The decision of the Council at their last meeting “ to 
issue the regulations simply as recommended by the Society” 
will give general satisfaction, and is a great relief to us all. 
The most objectionable part of the proposition being thus 
withdrawn, we can now discuss the matter more calmly, and 
it is to be hoped we may produce some plan that will be accep¬ 
table to all. The chief objection now to the regulations is, 
that they apply to numerous articles which require no special 
care in keeping them, and to many which it would be almost 
impossible to keep under any of the proposed systems. There 
is no doubt that cantharides, ergot, oil of savin, tartar emetic 
and chloroform were not included in the schedule on account 
of their poisonotis properties, but because they had been, or 
might be, used for improper purposes, and were put into the 
list of poisons simply in order to limit their accessibility to 
the public; and it is clearly unnecessary to apply the regula¬ 
tions to the keeping of them or their preparations. 
Then with regard to vermin killers, red and white precipi¬ 
tate, oxalic acid, opium and others, which are commonly kept 
weighed ready for retail sale,—the very object of their being 
so kept ready is to prevent delay in serving customers; and 
no man could really keep these articles according to the re¬ 
gulation, whatever pretences of doing so he might adopt. 
Further, with regard to many of the “preparations” of 
opium, belladonna and others not particularly dangerous, but 
in frequent use as medicines, it is by no means desirable 
either to acquaint the public with their dangerous qualities, 
or to alarm timid customers unnecessarily by placarding them 
as poison. 
I would, therefore, suggest that the regulations should 
only apply to the more dangerous articles, and would pro¬ 
pose, that in the keeping of poisons the following precau¬ 
tions be recommended:— 
1. That every box, bottle, vessel, or package in which any 
poison is kept, be distinctly labelled with the name of the 
article it contains; also, that every box, etc., containing 
arsenic or its salts, prussic acid, the poisonous alkaloids and 
their salts, metallic cyanides, oxalic acid, corrosive sublimate, 
white precipitate, liniments of aconite and belladonna, ess. oil 
of bitter almonds and laudanum, be labelled “ Poison.” 
2. That the poisonous alkaloids and their salts, prussic 
acid, liniments of aconite and belladonna, be kept in dark 
blue bottles with red or orange-coloured labels. 
3. In dispensing the prescriptions of medical practitioners, 
all liniments, lotions and embrocations containing poison be 
sent out in bottles distinguishable by touch or colour from 
ordinary medicine bottles, and that the labels used be red or 
orange. 
By the foregoing plan every really dangerous article is sub¬ 
ject to special precaution, which may be adopted, and the 
use of such further precautions as each person may think de¬ 
sirable is not prevented. The use of blue bottles and red 
labels is suggested for the sake of uniformity, and because 
they are becoming very generally adopted for dangerous 
articles. 
Should, however, the plan now proposed be considered not 
sufficiently extended, the proposition of the Council may be 
shorn of most of its objectionable features by the following 
alterations:— 
Proposed Recommendations as to the Keeping and 
Dispensing of Poisons. 
1. That in the keeping of poisons each bottle, vessel, box, 
or package containing a poison be distinctly labelled with the 
name of the article, and that each bottle, etc. containing 
arsenic, prussic acid, the poisonous alkaloids or their salts, 
metallic cyanides, oxalic acid, corrosive sublimate, white pre¬ 
cipitate, iiniment |of aconite and belladonna, ess. oil of 
bitter almonds and laudanum, be labelled “ poison.” 
2. Also, in the keeping of poisons, that prussic acid, the 
poisonous alkaloids and their salts, liniments of aconite and 
belladonna, be kept on one or other of the following sys¬ 
tems, viz.:— 
(rt) in a bottle tied over, capped, locked or otherwise 
secured in a manner different from that in which 
bottles or vessels 'containing ordinary articles are 
secured in the same warehouse, shop, or dispen¬ 
sary; or 
(6) in a bottle or vessel readily distinguishable by touch 
or colour from the bottles or vessels in which ordi¬ 
nary articles arc kept in the same warehouse, shop 
or dispensary; or 
(c) in a bottle, vessel, box or package kept in a room or 
cupboard set apart for dangerous articles. 
3. In dispensing the prescriptions of medical practitioners, 
all liniments, embrocations, and lotions containing poison 
be sent out in bottles readily distinguishable by touch or 
colour from ordinary medicine bottles, and that there also be 
affixed to each such bottle (in addition to the name of the 
article, and to any particular instructions for its use) a label 
giving notice that the contents of the bottle are not to be 
taken internally. 
By either of these plans the object in view, namely, that of 
guarding against accidents and mistakes, will be secured as 
far as can be done by any mechanical means; but it should 
never be forgotten that reading the labels is a far more im¬ 
portant thing than locks and keys, safety caps and sand-paper, 
and that if a man neglect that first and most important duty, 
—reading his labels carefully,—neither poison-cupboards 
nor angular bottles nor corks set round with pins, nor any 
other mechanical contrivance will save him from the conse¬ 
quences of that neglect. 
Cheetham Kill, April IDA, 1871. W. Wilkinson. 
C. J. B. —(1.) The subscription to the Pharmaceutical Society 
after passing the Preliminary Examination is a voluntary 
one, and has no connection with the Minor Examination. 
Apply to the Secretary for a prospectus. (2.) The name of 
the informant would not be disclosed. 
“ Somerset .”—We consider any sum under £100 very mo¬ 
derate. No master who does his duty conscientiously can 
afford to devote the necessary time for a less remuneration 
than the amount named. 
W. W .—Reasonable service only can be lawfully exacted- 
What is “reasonable” would be determined by the character 
and usages of the trade, which differ much in every town. 
Lay your grievances before your master, and ask him for as 
much consideration as circumstances will afford. If he de¬ 
cline to entertain your proposals, state your case to some 
solicitor, clergyman or medical man, with a request to act in 
a friendly way as arbitrator between yourself and your 
employer. 
“Cerium .”—We believe such bottles maybe obtained of 
any dealer in medical glass. 
J. B. should apply at the College of Surgeons. 
W. S. 31 .— (1.) We do know. (2.) Blaine’s ‘ Outline of 
the Veterinary Art,’ published by Messrs. Longmans. 
“A Student.” —(1.) No. (2.) Because the ammonia ci¬ 
trate is the solvent of the oxide of iron, (3.) Saxony. 
(4.) The foreign metals are oxidized and separated in the 
slag formed. 
“ Boiler ” has omitted to send his name and address. 
The following journals have been received:—The ‘British 
Medical Journal,’ April 8; the‘Medical Times and Gazette,’ 
April 8; the ‘Lancet,’ April 8; the ‘Medical Press and 
Circular,’ April 12; ‘Nature,’ April 6; the ‘Chemical News,’ 
April 7; ‘Journal of the Society of Arts,’ April 5; ‘Gar¬ 
deners’ Chronicle,’April 8; the ‘Grocer,’ April 8; ‘Produce 
Markets Review,’ April 8; the ‘ English Mechanic,’ April 
7; the ‘ Practitioner ’ for April; the ‘ Canadian Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Journal’ for March; the ‘Philadelphia Medical and 
Surgical Reporter,’ Nos. 730-732; the St. Neots Chronicle,. 
March 25. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. J. E. Howard, Dr. De Vry, Mr. T. Collier, Mr. E. E. 
Campbell, Mr. Hustwick, Mr. T. Buck, Mr. C. Ekin, Mr. M. 
C. Cooke, Messrs. M'Master, Hodgson, and Co., Mr. T. Lowe, 
Mr. J. T. Newey, Mr, C. Eve. Mr. W. W. Stoddart, T. P. B., 
J. W., C. E. L. N., “A Country Member,” “Moelline.” 
