462 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[December 9,1871. 
relational numbers, always meant parts by weight, 
and that measures , when similarly used, always 
meant parts by volume, no mistake would be likely 
to occur. If, however, it should be thought desir¬ 
able in some instances to be more explicit, the term 
part might be extended to part by weight; but it 
would be very undesirable to use more words than 
are absolutely necessary, as these terms would have 
to be frequently employed, not only in setting out 
the formulae for the ingredients, but in the instruc¬ 
tions for conducting the processes, and also in de¬ 
scribing the application of tests. In cases in which 
the terms part and measure would both occur in the 
same process, the measure would be the water- 
measure of the unit of weight, whatever that might 
be. 
With a clear understanding of the meaning of the 
terms part and measure , as thus defined, their appli¬ 
cation in the construction of formulas would, in most 
cases, be sufficiently simple and easy, and the inter¬ 
pretation of the descriptions given by means of them 
would admit of no doubt. 
The following examples will serve to illustrate the 
application of the proposed method to some of the 
processes of the Pharmacopoeia:— 
Antimonial Powder. 
Take of 
Oxide of Antimony.1 part. 
Phosphate of lime.2 parts. 
Mix them thoroughly. 
Diluted Acetic Acid. 
Take of 
Acetic Acid.1 measure. 
Distilled Water.7 measures. 
Mix. 
These are two of the most simple cases that would 
occur; the numbers used representing the propor¬ 
tions of the ingredients, in one case by weight, and 
in the other by volume. 
As another example, we may refer to the process 
for spirit of camphor, in which an ounce of camphor 
is dissolved in nine fluid ounces of rectified spirit. 
The formula would be written:— 
Take of 
Camphor . 1 part. 
Rectified Spirit.9 measures. 
Dissolve. 
In this case, whatever weight might be used tore- 
present 1 part, the 9 measures would be nine water- 
measures of that weight. It is obvious, however, 
that the numbers here are not strictly proportional 
numbers, for the spirit and camphor do not bear the 
relation of 9 to 1 either by weight or volume. The 
numbers might be more correctly represented as re¬ 
lational numbers. They indicate the relation of a 
weighed quantity to a measured quantity. Even the 
terms part and measure, as used in this case, might 
be taken exception to, if considered apart from the 
definition already given. Viewed in that way, with¬ 
out reference to the definition, the terms would be 
more explicit, if for measures was written unit-mea¬ 
sures, the measure being a measure of the unit of 
weight; but even this, without further explanation 
or definition, would not convey a correct impression, 
for the spirit, if estimated as spirit, is not 9 measures 
of the unit of weight, but 9 water-measures or nine 
times the measure of the unit-weight of water. 
It thus appears, therefore, that the terms part and 
measure, or, I believe, any other equally and suffi¬ 
ciently concise terms, must be used conventional^, 
for the specific purpose required, and subject to a 
definition. When so used, the terms are convenient 
and appear to answer the required purpose They 
are applicable to either of the alternative systems of 
weight and measure, for while we have the grain and 
grain-measure, the ounce and fluid ounce or ounce 
measure, and the pound and sixteen-ounce measure, 
all of which are recognized and have long been used 
in this country,—the metrical system includes the 
cubic centimetre and the litre, which are the water- 
measures of the gram and the kilogram. 
In some of the processes that are more compli¬ 
cated than those I have referred to, difficulties in the 
way of applying the proposed method appear to exist, 
which, however, are easily removed by slightly mo¬ 
difying the arrangement of the formulae. The pro¬ 
cess for chloroform, as given in the Pharmacopoeia, 
is one of this description. The formula, as it now 
stands, includes not only the ingredients employed 
for the production of the crude chloroform, but also 
those used in the subsequent purification of the pro¬ 
duct. The description would be rendered more 
simple and effective, and, at the same time, better 
suited for the use of proportional and relational 
numbers, if the formula representing the ingredients 
contained only those used in the first operation, and 
the substances used in the purification were merely 
named when referred to in the instructions for con¬ 
ducting the subsequent part of the process; it would 
then run as follows:— 
Take of 
Rectified Spirit.2 measures. 
Water.30 measures. 
Chlorinated Lime . . . .10 parts. 
Slaked Lime. 5 parts. 
Put the water and the spirit into a still capable of 
holding three or four times as much as the bulk of the 
ingredients introduced, and having raised the tempera¬ 
ture of the mixed liquid to 100°, add the chlorinated lime 
and slaked lime, and mix the whole thoroughly. Con¬ 
nect the still with an efficient condenser, terminating in a 
narrow-necked receiver, and apply heat so as to cause dis¬ 
tillation to commence, taking care to withdraw the fire 
as soon as the process has been well established. When 
the distilled product amounts to 3 or 4 measures the 
receiver is to be withrawn, and its contents mixed with 
about 5 measures of water in a bottle of ample size in 
which they can be well shaken together. The mixture 
is now to bo left at rest for a few minutes, when the 
liquids will separate into two strata of different densities. 
Let the lower stratum, which constitutes crude chloro¬ 
form, be washed by agitating it in a bottle with a tenth 
of its volume of distilled water. Allow the chloroform 
to subside, withdraw the water, and repeat the washing 
twice in the same way with similar portions of distilled 
water. Add to the washed chloroform an equal volume 
of sulphuric acid, care being taken that the acid thus 
used is entirely free from nitric or nitrous acid ; shako 
them together in a stoppered bottle for five minutes, 
then allow the mixture to settle, and transfer the upper- 
stratum, consisting of purified chloroform, to a flask or 
retort, with about one-twentieth of its weight of dry 
chloride of calcium and a fourth of that quantity of per¬ 
fectly dry slaked lime. Let them stand together for 
about an hour, then, an efficient condenser being at¬ 
tached, distil over the pure chloroform by means of a 
water-bath. Preserve the product in a cool place in a 
bottle furnished with an accurately-ground stopper. 
The process for ether would be treated similarly, 
and would be described as follows :— 
