380 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 4,1871. 
the nut imbedded in a wooden handle, and as one of the others 
seemed inclined to follow its example, I have been obliged to 
use the press very cautiously; even under these disadvantages 
it has met the requirements of my business, but it was hardly 
fair to subject it to this severe test. 
A neighbouring chemist brought me a small cylinder con¬ 
taining the marc of forty ounces of tincture of orange-peel, 
from which he stated he had pressed off thirty-nine ounces, 
which I consider a very successful result by a single screw 
press, but he brought it to me to see if I could get any more 
out of it by my press. I transferred it to my cylinder, and 
even in the crippled state of my press soon produced a couple 
of drachms more, when the other handle, breaking off, com¬ 
pelled me to discontinue the experiment. 
Several minor points of improvement suggest themselves 
for consideration before any of your readers attempt the con¬ 
struction of such a powerful press as I advised in ray letter 
in the Pharm. Journal, Oct. 21. For instance, the cylin¬ 
der should be made of tolerably stout sheet-iron tinned, the 
female screw must be of great strength and beautifully cut. 
I should recommend a piece of one inch square iron bar, 
with a hole punched in the centre to receive a piece of steei 
to be welded in, and the screw thread cut in it. The ends 
must be hammered out, not welded on. Such a fine screw 
must be carefully preserved from injury by contact with the 
touch-plate. A flange filed (or rather turned) at the base of 
the nut, and fitting into the hole in the plate, would secure 
the screw from any contact with it. (If any of your readers 
fail to quite understand me, I will send them a model in cork 
or wood by post.) The top of the press block should be 
slightly convex, to ensure the pressure being in the centre, 
also to aid the leverage of the crossbeam, and some other 
points not affecting the general principle of the implement, 
the excellence of which I am sure the majority of your 
readers will approve. The superior method of applying the 
power so as to pull the screw instead of pushing it—discard¬ 
ing the cumbersome iron frame—great increase of power, 
moderate expense, etc., are all advantages too important to 
be overlooked. 
I quite agree with the excqllent suggestion of your corre¬ 
spondent to increase the depth of the cross-beam. I purposely 
sketched it slighter than the model, which I thought too 
thick, and intended planing down, to increase its elasticity, 
but I now think it unsafe to reduce its strength. Might I 
ask some of your readers with a better knowledge of mecha¬ 
nics than myself to favour me with their opinion on the pro¬ 
posed spring ? It is quite imaginary, and would not directly 
increase the power, but it might enable it to be applied with 
greater ease, and by its automatic action diminish labour. 
Also to point out (not by taking exception to a term, but 
bond fide) any errors they may discover in what I have stated 
throughout this controversy, except the vexed question of 
power; as my calculations have all been expressed in the 
simplest terms, the errors will be easily detected. 
October 2>0tli, 1871. C. A. Staples. 
Sir,—Will you kindly allow me a small space in the Journal 
to make a few remarks in favour of Mr. Staples’ Tincture 
Press f 
It is now several years since I left Mr. Staples’ employ; 
and since that time I have occupied several situations both 
in the suburbs of London and in first-class provincial towns, 
and I have never met with a tincture press that so well 
answers the purpose of a retail druggist as the one described 
by Mr. Staples (Pitarm. Journ. September 9th). 
One of the principal objections to other presses that I have 
used is, that they are too heavy and cumbersome; now 
Mr. Staples’ press, on the other hand (as he mentions in 
his letter, Pharm. Journ. October 14th), is portable and 
light. And, again, another improvement is the double screws, 
which enable one to so materially increase the pressure on 
the marc. I well remember (although it is so long ago since. 
I used the double-handled press) how often I have taken out 
the residue after completing the expression, and noticed with 
surprise how perfectly every drop of spirit seemed to have 
been pressed out; so much so, indeed, that one would scarcely 
believe, on breaking up the dry residue, that it had ever con¬ 
tained foreign moisture in the shape of spirit. 
I mention this simple fact, because it does apply to Mr. 
Staples’ press, and it does not apply to other presses that I 
have used. 
In conclusion, I would remark that if Mr. TImney had en¬ 
deavoured to make a few practical suggestions for improving- 
upon Mr. Staples’ principle, instead of making it such a sine 
qua non to prove the theoretical pressure, he would have- 
more probably obtained the thanks of the trade in general. 
W. Watts, A.P.S. by Exam. 
Campden, October 24.dh, 1871. 
The Library and Museum. 
Sir,—Through the medium of your Journal, I beg to sug¬ 
gest what I think many, including myself, would find of great 
advantage, namely, the opening of the Library and Museum 
of the Pharmaceutical Society, say, for only two evenings a 
week, until 9 or 10 o’clock, instead of closing at 5 o’clock, as 
at present; thus giving many, who have one night a week 
for recreation, the benefit of that Institution. I hope this 
may not be overlooked. 
16, Cambridge Street, A Chemist’s Assistant. 
Hyde Park Square , Oct. 18 th, 1871. 
Evans and Sons’ Materia Medica Chest. 
Sir,—Will you allow me, through the medium of your 
columns, to thank Messrs. Evans and Sons, of Liverpool, for 
the five-guinea materia medica chest which they have pre¬ 
sented to the Tyneside Chemists’ Assistants’ Association. 
Much as may have been written with regard to the useful¬ 
ness of this collection, too much can hardly be said in favour 
of it. It seems to me as complete as is possible, and tho 
arrangement as perfect as so large a number of specimens m 
so small a comparative space will allow. 
Alered Eradt, Hon. Sec. 
29, Mosley Street, Neiocastle-on-Tyne, October 21 st, 1871. 
“ Chemicus ” is thanked for his letter criticizing the doctrine- 
of “skin tanning,” but as we have already said, the discussion 
of this subject would be more appropriate in a medical journal. 
IF. S. Groyne. —The manufacture of acid chromate of potash 
is described in most chemical works. 
JB. Keene.—Tamus communis. 
G-. JB. —We are unacquainted with the plant. 
“ Peltatum.”- —The subject of your letter was fully dis¬ 
cussed both in our columns and at the Council table of the 
Society for some years before and up to the time of the pass¬ 
ing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868. It was then considered 
that, having due regard to the various interests affected, the 
titles mentioned in that and the first Pharmacy Act were the 
best that could be continued. We regard the question as hav¬ 
ing been settled. It would serve no good purpose to reopen it. 
G. A .—The Secretary will communicate with Mr. Drewe 
on the subject of vour communication. 
“ Gelatine” — J. C. K. fully endorses Mr. Hustwick’s re¬ 
marks respecting the gelatinizing of tinct. kino. He has 
made large quantities without having found it to change, a 
result which he attributes to his having used the granular 
form or “gruffs ” of the gum. 
J. Bairnsfalher (Kentucky) is thanked for the newspaper 
cutting fortvarded by him. We think, however, that such a 
romantic story would be out of place in the Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Journal. 
AT. TT .—A student may enter the laboratory for a shorter 
period than a month, but the lowest fee is £2. 2s. 
Dispensing Charges. —We have received a letter from “ A 
Youngster in the Trade, but a Lover of Fair Play,” in 
which the writer expresses his indignation at the conduct of 
those who vend a six-ounce mixture for ninepence, or sub¬ 
mit to dictation from their customers as to the price that 
should be charged. Lamentable as such conduct may be, we 
are afraid that the punishment for it which our correspondent 
proposes, that they should “ be served as soldiers are when 
they desert or do anything very bad, viz. kicked out of the 
army and better men taken in their place, with better prin¬ 
ciple,” is one that could not be carried out profitably in the 
present state of the English law. 
W. S. N .— (1.) We think our correspondent was indiscreet 
in asking his customer the question. No pharmacist would 
make such a charge as he mentions. (2.) Having poured 
the tinctures into the bottle, let them completely moisten its 
sides, then mix and add the oils, and shake well; and lastly* 
add the cinnamon water, again shaking. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. J. Bush, Mr. J. T. Miller, “Juvenis,” “Chemicus,”' 
“ Qucerens.” 
