20 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[July 1,1871* 
Camspnime. 
*** A r o notice can be taken 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. 
Lemon a^d Lime Juice. 
Sir,—In reference to your article on lime and lemon juice, 
I may mention that some time since my attention was drawn 
to the subject, with the idea of finding a substitute for the 
horrible mixture of lemon juice and rum with which our 
sailors are now drenched by Act of Parliament. 
As there is no virtue in citric acid, it struck me that, per¬ 
haps, the value of lemon juice as a prophylactic was due to 
the potash it contains in combination with an organic acid, 
and that citrate of potash would answer every purpose. I 
was further confirmed [in this view by the writings of Dr. 
Garrod, and some experiments made with Mr. Deane, of 
Clapham, upon the salting of meat. From an analysis by 
Professor Attfield of some beef broth before and after salting, 
it appeared that the meat lost nearly 50 per cent, of its potash 
by the process, and that as the soda salt went in the potash 
salts ran out; this deficiency of potash, we thought, might 
probably be the cause of scurvy. Following up this idea, I 
then had some citrate of potash prepared, and through the 
interest of the Board of Trade some experiments have been 
made at the “ Seamen’s Hospital ” to test its value. 
These experiments have now been carried on for about 
twelve months, and through the kindness of Mr. Harry 
Leach, I have obtained a report of the result. Owing to the 
singularly few cases admitted to the Hospital during the past 
year, the trials have not been so numerous as we could have 
wished; still, in all cases, it has been found equally effica¬ 
cious as the juice; patients treated with citrate entering and 
leaving the hospital on the same day as those treated with 
lemon juice. It is true that too much stress must not be laid 
on these experiments, as there is some doubt as to which does 
most to promote a cure, the lemon juice or the extra good diet. 
I must here leave the matter, as I have no means of testing 
its value as a prophylactic, but I think it well worth a trial; 
and if some large shipowner would take it up and try one 
against the other during a lengthened voyage, the case might 
be at once decided; and if the citrate should answer the pur¬ 
pose, then the “lemon juice and rum” might be done away 
with for ever. 
This question also involves one as to the use of light wines, 
such as claret and hock, in gout, rheumatism, etc. May not 
their virtues be due to the bitartrate of potash they contain ? 
35, Ovington Square. Robert Palmer. 
Poison Regulations. 
Sir,—What a terrible fuss the people are making in the 
Journal about the poison regulations! 
I think there is no great objection to those proposed by the 
Council, beyond the dislike of all interference common to all 
Englishmen; also, that some precautions are necessary. We 
all know that twenty years ago in many establishments no 
precautions whatever were taken ; for instance, in the one in 
which I was apprenticed in London. 
Fifteen or sixteen years ago it was held by many (including 
ourselves), that the greatest safeguard was in suificient edu¬ 
cation and attention to what one was about and the use of 
one’s senses. Before I left England, however, poison cup¬ 
boards were coming into vogue. 
~ In my dispensary I adopt a plan which I have not seen 
mentioned by any one. It is very simple, and is this :—Poi- j 
sons that I am afraid of, such as strychnia, arsenic and hyd. 
bichlor., acetum cantli. fortiss. and iodine paint, I put behind 
the ordinary row of bottles, so that to get at them I have to 
take down a bottle or two in front. In this manner the space [ 
behind the bottles becomes the “poison cupboard,” and the 
front row of bottles the door. I think the plan gets rid, to 
a certain extent, of the difficulty I have lately seen men¬ 
tioned, viz. that if all the poisons had to be fetched in as 
wanted, the risk of accidents from accumulations on the ! 
counter would be greater than if the poisons were kept on 
the shelves, as the dispenser might wait for a spare moment 
to put his poisons back into their cupboard; whereas, in my 
plan, they can be (as they should be always) put away directly 
they are done with. Kaffeaeia. 
King William's Town , April 28 th, 1871. 
New Pharmacy Bill. 
Sir,—The Hull petition against the “new Pharmacy Bill” 
is signed by eighty-nine chemists in business, only one refusal 
having been met with. The smaller towns in East Yorkshire 
are moving, and every place of importance will have its peti¬ 
tion. Our county and borough members are with us, and 
the trade is becoming thoroughly roused. During forty-five 
years I have been connected with the business, I have never 
seen anything like it. Lancashire and Yorkshire are sound 
on the matter, and the white and red rose are twined together 
to defeat, if possible, this unnecessary and impracticable Bill. 
The wholesale case of poisoning at Bradford, referred to by 
the Right Hon. Mr. Forster, occurred in the “dark ages,” 
thirteen years ago, the arsenic having been purchased at the 
shop of general dealer and druggist in a neighbouring village 
during the absence of the master. In that case, the one 
element necessary to have avoided the accident was educa¬ 
tion, which, under the Act of 1868, is now compulsory; and 
it is hard that just when we in the provinces are beginning- 
to realize the necessity of education, and active steps are 
being taken to found lectures, classes, etc., we are suddenly 
called from our profitable and peaceful labours to take up 
arms in defence of our common liberties. 
I do not hesitate saying that a heavy blow and sore dis¬ 
couragement have been inflicted on technical education by 
this uncalled-for attempt at penal and restrictive legislation, 
to be followed, no doubt, by other and more severe Acts. 
As one of the founders, and for twenty years a local secre¬ 
tary of the Pharmaceutical Society, I have always looked 
upon it as a great educational institution, and, much as L 
regret the failure of the Council to understand the difference- 
between town and country trade, I believe a considerable- 
measure of success has attended their efforts to elevate the- 
trade, and to impress upon us a due sense of our responsibi¬ 
lity. If, however, the present Bill should pass, the Society 
would become little more than an institution under the- 
coercive action of the Privy Council, or, rather, its restless 
medical officer, for prying into, and attempting to regulate 
all the petty details of ten thousand widely-differing busi¬ 
nesses; and I can hardly conceive that any man, having a 
proper feeling of self-respect, or a due regard to his indepen¬ 
dence, could in such case consent to sit at the Council Board. 
No case for parliamentary interference has been made out ; 
and if danger to the public in the dispensing and storing of 
poisons does exist, it is far less likely to be in the open shop 
of either the chemist or the surgeon than in places closed to 
the public eye. In this town, on a careful estimate, it ap¬ 
pears that not more than one-eighth of the medicine sup¬ 
plied is dispensed by chemists, and I have little doubt this is. 
a fair specimen of other towns (perhaps London excepted)- 
Can anything more strongly show the inutility and one¬ 
sidedness of the proposed Bill ? Looking at the serious lia¬ 
bility now resting on dispensers of medicine, we may well- 
ask to be let alone. Neither surgeon nor chemist needs an 
Act of Parliament to sharpen his sense of responsibility in 
dealing with poisons. In the words of the late Jacob Bell (re¬ 
ferring to the Bradford case), “With persons acquainted with, 
the nature and properties of poisons, and duly impressed 
with their responsibility as vendors of such substances, no 
stronger motive for caution could exist than the dread of a 
verdict of manslaughter or absolute ruin as the probable result 
of a fatal accident arising from negligence on their part.” 
Hull, June 28 th, 1871. ~ James Baynes. 
Ice Cream Soda. —We think the doubt would still obtain 
since the preparation would be used more as a beverage than 
as a medicine. 
T. Hughes. —The remarks contained in our correspondent’s^ 
letter are open to be regarded as personal reflections. We 
think it advisable that they should uot be published. 
“ Manipulator'' —By referring to the Index accompanying 
the present number you will see that the formula has been 
given, and repeatedly commented upon very recently. 
H. Gleave, Hulme. —You will find the method given in the 
“ Notes and Queries” column of a recent number. 
J. Beaton. —We do not think it advisable to publish your 
letter, as it contains some personalities. 
“ Subordination .”—We decline to publish any letters con¬ 
taining remarks which may be considered personal. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. Poland, Mr. F. Wheeler, Mr. Savage, Mr. Godfrey, Mr. 
R. Mumbray, Mr. Barth, Mr. Edwards, W. H., E. H. C., J. S- 
