440 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 25, 1871. 
the medicine (if we can) in such a shape that the patient can 
take it without inconvenience. 
Everybody knows that we often get prescriptions for pills 
which, if made strictly as prescribed, could not be formed into 
pills at all. This is one I had to make up to-day,— 
Podoph. gr. xij 
Scammon. gr. xij 
Ext. Phei gr. xlviij 
01. Cinnam. gtt. xxiv 
Et. pil. xxiv. 
which, if dispensed as written, would be about the consistence 
of treacle; and, in the cases objected to, I only stated what I 
considered the best method of doing that which practically 
every one does in private. 
In most cases it would not be possible to communicate with 
the prescriber, and very few would thank us for doing so. I 
fancy a physician would be very much astonished to see me 
take one of his prescriptions, tell him the pills would be 
much too soft, and ask what I should do in the matter. I 
think he would tell me that I ought to know how to manage 
all that without bothering him, and I fear he would form a 
very low estimate of my qualifications as a dispensing che¬ 
mist, and would tell his patients not to bring their prescrip¬ 
tions to me. 
If T. B. will prove his assertion that, “in each of the cases 
named, no such difficulty exists as to render the change neces¬ 
sary,” and will show us a “more excellent way,” I for one 
shall be greatly obliged, as I do not consider myself too old 
to be taught. I should be glad, also, to know what he would 
have done with the following:— 
E. Ilyd. Chlor., 
Ext. Colch. Acet. ana gr. j 
Ext. Phei gr. ij 
Ext. Coloc. Co. gr. v 
Einge in pilulam. Sumat duas h. s., 
not being able to consult the prescriber. 
Cheetham Hill, Nov. 20th, 1871. W. Wilkinson. 
Sir,—It is with great pleasure that I read in the Journal of ■ 
the 18th, the remarks of your correspondent T. 13., upon Mr. 
Wilkinson’s paper. I venture to take the liberty of supple¬ 
menting them. 
When I read Mr. Wilkinson’s paper in the Journal of the 
11th, I was astonished that so bad a practice as that urged j 
by Mr. W., viz. the trifling seriously with a physician’s pre- j 
scription in order to render it easier of preparation, should 
have excited no surprise (if any expressions of indignation did 
take place, I presume place would have been found for them j 
in the Journal). I can only explain it by the presumption 
that the Manchester chemists have but lax notions of the 
duties of their calling. It seems to me that the substitution 
of p. gent, for ext. gent., and of p. hyoscy. for ext. liyoscv., 
and the omission of half the essential oil ordered in a quan¬ 
tity of pills, are far too great liberties to be taken by any che¬ 
mist. I also think the whole tendency of that part of the 
paper alluded to, would tend to lead apprentices and some j 
assistants to think they are doing but right, even if they go 
a little further, and, for the sake of convenience, profit, or 
saving of time or trouble, omit or substitute by others, the 
ingredients of any prescription confided to them. 
In conclusion, I would advise all dispensers rather to send ! 
out occasionally a somewhat badly manipulated medicine, 1 
than depart seriously from the use of the quantities ordered ‘ 
in a prescription, without the consent of the physician. 
Leicester, Nov. 20th, 1871. Walter B. Clark. 
Pharmaceutical Education. 
Sir,—At the present time when so much surprise is ex- j 
pressed at the number of those plucked for both the Minor ; 
and the Preliminary, I think less would be felt if the circum¬ 
stances in which many apprentices are placed were more 
fully known. 
A man calling himself a chemist and druggist, often more 
of a quack-doctor, takes a youth as an apprentice, with little 
or no Latin and barely sufficient English even for the Pre¬ 
liminary. Eor four years, perhaps five, he struggles on, 
working his twelve hours per day, and learning what ? chiefly 
how to serve a pennyworth of hair-oil or a box of capsules. 
As to prescriptions, he scarcely ever sees one, and when he 
does, what sort of dispensing is he to learn from using tinctures, 
half-and-half, with perhaps the additional peculiarity of 
having their expensive adjuncts left out ? 
And when he comes out of his time he finds that he has 
been deceived,—robbed of four of the most valuable years of 
his life; has to begin the world anew, nay, more, to eradicate 
those notions derived during his apprenticeship. It is a 
monstrous crime for a man to sign to teach a boy the “ art 
and mystery of a chemist and druggist,” and, at the same time, 
know that he is incapable of doing so. But there are many 
J such cases spread over the country, and are not at least some 
j of the failures traceable to them ? It has been stated, and 
' upon good authority, that the better class of pharmacists de¬ 
cline taking apprentices. If so, are we to undei*stand that if 
not on the increase, this unfortunate class is still kept up ? 
November 20th, 1871. Meteor. 
Sir,—On the subject of professional education, allow me to 
make a few remarks. 
i Under the new regime, before a young man can commence 
business as a chemist, he is compelled to undergo a somewhat 
; difficult examination, therefore study during the tercn of his ap- 
I prenticeship is absolutely necessary, and a certain time should 
j be allowed him for that purpose. But in most cases apprentices 
are obliged to work from 7.30 a.m. until 9 or 10 P.M., during 
which time no opportunity is afforded them (except at those 
; periods, say two or three times a week, when grace is given 
them for necessary relaxation and exercise). Under such 
circumstances it frequently occurs that candidates who go up 
; for examination are plucked, not from a want of zeal and 
attention on their part, but mainly because the necessary pre¬ 
paration and proper time for study have been overlooked by the 
employers during their term of apprenticeship. A'. Z. 
T. TV. —Your communications are received and shall have 
attention. 
“A Correspondents —Britten’s ‘Dispenser’s Yade Mecum * 
is sold by Messrs. Maw, Son and Thompson, price 3s. Gd. 
S. C .—We think that you might obtain the work through 
the publishers of this Journal. 
John Jinks. —Apply to the Pcgistrar for a paper contain¬ 
ing some “Hints to Apprentices and Students,” in which 
you will find the information you require. 
U. L. L .—Mohr and Pedwood’s ‘ Practical Pharmacy ’ is- 
the only English work of the kind with which we are ac¬ 
quainted, but we believe it is out of print. 
J. P. T .—The subjects may be taken in any order. If we 
may judge from the letter received, we would recommend our 
correspondent to pay particular attention to the study of 
English before he again presents himself for examination. 
T. David. —Probably Jdchium vulgare, but the specimen is 
much injured. 
“ TaraxacumS —We think a machine similar in construc¬ 
tion to the bark-mill used by tanners for reducing into shreds 
oak-bark would answer very well. Such a machine is already 
in use in some of the drug-grinding establishments in town, 
and is made to prepare cinchona-bark, calumba, gentian, etc., 
in a fit state for infusion, without making any dust. 
“ Ignoramus —(1.) No. (2.) Yes. (3.) The Major and 
Minor examinations are held only in London and Edinburgh; 
the Preliminary examinations may be conducted under the 
superintendence of the Local Secretary of the district most 
convenient to the candidate. 
“ AmicoS —The Minor examination is entirely viva voce,. 
and is of only one day’s duration. With regard to the Major 
examination, particulars should be sent to the Secretary, 
at 17, Bloomsbury Square. 
B. Keevill .—Your letter has been handed to the Secretary. 
See a notice on p. 2 of the advertising sheet as to the occa¬ 
sional delay in the delivery of the Journal. 
A. M .—The temperature may be raised to any point, pro¬ 
vided that the water is under sufficient pressure. 
Ph. C .—By section 1 of the Pharmacy Act it is made illegal 
for any person not registered under that Act to assume the 
title of “ Druggist.” 
“Inquire)’.” —See a case reported in this Journal, 3rd ser. 
Yol. I. p. 775. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. A. Mitchell, Mr. J. Pyne, Mr. J. Yates, Mr. H. Poc-k- 
lington, Mr. G-. D. Wenham, Mr. J. P. Jackson, Mr. M. C. 
Cooke, Mr. W. Martindale, Mr. Sydney March, Mr. J. T. 
Wallis, P. C., W. P. D., Y. Z., “Spero,” “Veritas,” “Log¬ 
wood.” 
G. J. T. has not complied with the rule in reference to- 
anonymous communications. 
