460 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS 
[December 2,1871. 
Take Mr.-as an example, one who has struggled bravely, 
and had just accomplished a long-desired object in getting 
the whole of the business into his own hands, to be swept 
away in one night, so that not one cent is left him, but, 
on the other hand, an embarrassment of about 8000 dollars 
debt. He was insured for 24,000 dollars, out of which he 
will realize about 5000 to 6000 dollars. Still he holds out 
bravely, and is putting up a temporary building on his 
new location. Bartlett lost nothing, excepting what he 
had at the College. Your friend, the writer, lost all his 
apparatus, instruments, books, specimens, and many highly 
cherished articles which he had been collecting for j’ears, and 
had taken to the College for use in the just-commenced 
course of lectures. We had every prospect of a very success¬ 
ful session, having on the opening night some 43 matricu¬ 
lants, and with the expectation of at least a class of 50 
students. After the fire, for a week or so, we hoped that we 
might continue the course, and had made arrangements with 
the Chicago Medical College for the use of their specimens, 
apparatus and rooms, but we were doomed to disappoint¬ 
ment by the severe illness of Prof. Ilambright, which re¬ 
sulted indirectly through the excitement of the fire. He 
was left very low and prostrated, and his physician ordered 
him to be removed from the city. This has put a stop to our 
proceedings for the present, still hoping, however, that, with 
the aid of our friends, we shall be well prepared to continue next 
winter. We have had much assistance sent us, 800 dollars 
from San Francisco, 17,000 dollars from New York city. 
Still, there is considerable want even of the necessities of 
life among those who have never been accustomed to asking 
relief. These are really the greatest sufferers, and it becomes 
our duty to seek them out, and save them, if possible, from 
actual want. My own business is good, and am kept quite 
busy, so that I can find but a few moments to sjmre at a 
a time to attend to correspondence. The Pharmacist we 
shall have out, if possible, about the 25th of this month. 
We will have it published in Philadelphia if by that time we 
cannot find any printer in this city ready to do it. I am 
busy getting matter ready. . . . Remember me kindly to all 
inquiring friends, and believe me, as ever, 
“ Your friend, 
“Albeet C. Ebeet.” 
Dispensing Difficulties. 
Sir,—I quite agree with “T. B.” and also with Mr. Clark 
as to the inadvisability of making such material alterations in 
prescriptions as carried out by Mr. Wilkinson, merely for 
the sake of presenting the medicine in a c mvenient form for 
administration. Suppose, for instance, the patient should 
the next time the medicine was required send the prescrip¬ 
tion elsewhere; the result would be a great deal of vexation 
and annoyance to either one chemist or the other, caused by 
the patient’s dissatisfaction with the variable effect of the 
medicine. 
My plan is, whenever a soft extract is ordered, such as 
rhei, calumb. or gentian, to weigh out the required quantity, 
transfer it to a slab, and then apply a gentle heat with the 
gas stove until I think the extract has acquired a proper con¬ 
sistence for working. By adopting this means I have gene¬ 
rally been able to turn out a satisfactory pill, and I think in 
every respect complied with the wishes of the prescriber. 
For the second prescription given by Mr. W. in the cur¬ 
rent number of the Journal, I should use the pulv. ext. coloc. 
co., allowing, of course, a percentage for the loss of moisture. 
Hackney, Nov. 27th, 1871. F. W. S. 
intelligent and conscientious a man not to communicate with 
the prescriber when practicable or necessary. 
F. Baden Bengee, 
Hon. Sec. Manchester Chemists' Association. 
Manchester, Nov. 28 th, 1871. 
Sir,—In reply to Mr. Wilkinson’s request, that I would 
prove my assertion that the material alterations he proposes 
are unnecessary in the cases given, I would submit that if 
the extracts are, as the Pharmacopoeia directs, “ evaporated 
until of suitable consistence for forming pills,” there will be 
no difficulty; but if they are not in a condition fulfilling the 
above requirement, it is surely better to take the trilling 
trouble of further evaporation than to adulterate. 
A more excellent way of making the iron, etc. pills than 
the certainly handy one of throwing out anything trouble¬ 
some, is to subtract five grains of water from the sulphate of 
iron, and add that quantity of wax to the oil of cinnamon. 
By this means the whole of the component medicines are 
combined in a perfectly manageable mass without increase of 
weight. T. B. 
Stockton, 28 tli Nov., 1871. 
Sir,—I see in the Journal of last week that Mr. Wilkinson, 
in speaking of prescriptions which, if dispensed accurately as 
prescribed, cannot be formed into pills at all, gives the fol¬ 
lowing as an example, stating that it forms a mass the con¬ 
sistence of treacle :—• 
R. Podophylli, 
Scammon., ana gr. xij 
Ext. Rhei gr. xlviij 
01. Cinnamon <iyxxiv. 
Ft. pil. xxiv. 
I find it may be easily formed into firm and tolerably hard 
pills by using the powdered extract of rhubarb (of course 
allowing for loss of moisture), and adding to each pill a 
grain of calcined magnesia and powdered tragacanth, so form¬ 
ing a 5-grain pill. The oil of cinnamon should be dropped 
upon the whole of the magnesia, made into a mass and 
divided as quickly as possible, putting the pills into a bottle. 
This, I think, is following the suggestion of your corre¬ 
spondent “T. B.,” presenting the medicine in such a form as- 
to be taken without inconvenience, and at the same time 
avoiding making any material alteration in the prescription 
with the physician’s approval. 
I enclose some of the pills made in the manner described. 
Birmingham, Nov. 28 th, 1871. James Spencee. 
[*** Tne pills forwarded by our correspondent appear to 
be of convenient size, well made and of good consistence.— 
Ed. Puaem. Jouenal.] 
Prescribing and Dispensing. —Mr. George Mee writes in 
reference to the article published last week under this title, 
for the purpose of defending London physicians, and of de¬ 
scribing his own experience of the caligraphy, chemistry and 
posology of their prescriptions. But he is quite mistaken in 
supposing our remarks to have been applied specially to 
London physicians. 
G. Jenkins. —See the second page of the advertising'sheet. 
“ Logwood.” —The preparation is made by Messrs. Savory 
and Moore. 
G. M. Wilkins. —We do not know of any published pro¬ 
cess. Apply to Mr. Robbins, Oxford Street. 
Sy iney March. —We know of none. 
G. J. A. —It is probable that the free acid decomposes the 
citrate. 
Sir,—I am to some extent responsible for the reflections 
cast on my unhappy city by one or two of your correspon¬ 
dents, as I omitted to report some remarks made by myself ; 
and others when Mr. Wilkinson’s paper was read. The sub¬ 
stitution of hard extract for the ordinary soft form was recom¬ 
mended in the “ difficult ” formulse mentioned. 
I do not remember, however, that there was any remark¬ 
able outburst of indignation when Mr. Wilkinson spoke of 
reducing the quantity of oil of cinnamon in one case; per¬ 
haps some of us failed to distinguish the moral difference j 
between putting the quantity only that could be absorbed by 
the pill-mass, and adding the full quantity and then squeez¬ 
ing part of it out on the pill machine and fingers, or driving 
it off by the aid of a warm mortar or slab. Let him that is 
without sin amongst us (if sin it be) cast the next stone. 
We who know Mr. Wilkinson best knew that he was too 
J. P. —After having been in the trade fourteen years, and 
having passed the Modified examination two years ago, it 
ought to bo unnecessary for you to study in order to pass- 
any examination as to competence as a pharmacist. We do 
not find your name on the Register, or amongst those who 
have passed the Modified examination. 
T. W. —We have examined the Regulations, and think 
that you have just cause of complaint. 
J. B. B. —A few grains of bicarbonate of soda added to 
good fresh milk will preserve it for some days. 
“ Sjoes.” —Probably “Plummer’s Pill,” but it is difficult to 
pronounce decidedly in the absence of the prescription. 
Commumcations, Letteks, etc., have been received from 
Mr. G. Wilcox, Dr. De Vry, Mr. G. C. Druce, Mr. W. W. 
Stoddart, Mr. H. Kingscote, B. S., “ Zeno,” “ A Founder,” 
“ Puzzled.” 
