464 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 9,1871. 
solutions referred to, and other preparations that 
would come into the same category with them, it 
would he necessary to provide measures of ample 
size graduated to grain-measures instead of fluid 
ounces. Such measures are now supplied by dealers 
in chemical apparatus, hut they are not in common 
use. Sets of grain-weights up to 10,000 grains 
would also be desirable. The ease and rapidity with 
which processes would be performed in which propor - 
tional and relational numbers are used would greatly 
depend upon using the same denomination of weight 
or measure throughout a process, and where mea¬ 
sure as well as weight is indicated in the same 
process, using a denomination of measure that cor¬ 
responds to the unit of weight, as for instance, 
using the grain-measure in connection with the 
grain, and the cubic centimetre in connection with 
the gram. 
One of the objects contemplated in the proposed 
change being the establishment of a more simple 
quantitative relation of the ingredients in compound 
medicines, it would, I think, be desirable in some 
cases to depart from the usual practice of measuring 
liquids. I would suggest, therefore, that in medi¬ 
cines containing solid and liquid ingredients, if the 
products be of such consistence that they would be 
prescribed and dispensed by weight, the liquid in¬ 
gredients contained in them should be apportioned 
by weight, with the view of simplifying the propor¬ 
tions. Thus, for instance, in confection of opium, as 
now prepared, neither the opium nor the compound 
powder of opium is a simple proportion of the whole, 
because the syrup is used by measure; whereas if 
the syrup as well as the powder were ordered by 
weight, the proportions could easily be made simple 
and definite. The formula now is, 
Compound powder of opium . 192 grains. 
Syrup.1 fluid ounce. 
Proportion 1 in 4, nearly. 
I would make it, 
Compound powder of opium . 1 part. 
Syrup.3 parts by weight. 
Proportion of compound powder of opium 1 in 4, 
and of opium 1 in 40, exactly. 
This is a case in which it would be desirable to 
extend the term “parts” to “parts by weight,” as 
applied to the syrup, with a view to greater ex¬ 
plicitness. 
Confection of scammony would be treated simi¬ 
larly, and so also would the pill-masses which con¬ 
tain liquid excipients or essential oils. By adopting 
tliis and other proposed changes, we might obviate 
the necessity there now is of using the term “ nearly” 
in representing the proportions of the ingredients in 
compound medicines. 
I have already alluded, among the modifications 
required to make the proposed method practically 
applicable to all the processes of the Pharmacopoeia, 
to the omission in a few instances of the use of pro¬ 
portional or relational numbers. It will be obvious 
that in cases in which the formulae are intended to 
represent the quantities of the medicines ordered 
which are to be administered at one time, as occurs 
in the formulae for enemata, reference must be made 
to specified weights and measures. In such cases, 
of which there are only a few in the Pharmacopoeia’ 
one of two methods must be adopted. We must 
cither express the quantities of the ingredients by 
weight and measure, putting the two sorts of weight 
and measure in separate columns,—a method I have 
already alluded to,—or we may first describe the pro¬ 
cess by using proportional or relational numbers, 
and then represent the doses by weight or measure, 
according to the alternative systems. 
In the formulae for enemas I think the former of 
these methods the best, because each of the formulae 
is in fact a prescription, wdiich is inserted in the 
Pharmacopoeia to save the physician trouble. The 
only change I would propose to make in these 
formulae would be the introduction of a second co¬ 
lumn of figures representing the quantities according 
to the metrical system; thus, 
Enema of Aloes. 
Aloes.40 grains. \ t 2‘59 gram. 
Carbonate of potash 15 grains, f I 0 1 97 gram. 
Mucilage of starch . 10 fl. ounces i 01 j 283'49 cubic 
/ l centimetres. 
The occasional placing in apposition of the equi¬ 
valents of the two sorts of weight and measure, in 
this way, would have the good effect of showing the 
relation existing between them. 
There are two other classes of preparations in the 
Pharmacopoeia, in which the processes include the 
apportionment of the doses, namely, the suppositories, 
and the lozenges. I would treat these cases differ¬ 
ently from that of the enemas. 
With reference to the suppositories, the formulae 
for all of which are very simple, it would only be ne¬ 
cessary to substitute parts for grains in connection 
with the ingredients, and in representing the weight 
of each suppository to give it in grams as well as 
grains:— 
Tannic Acid Suppositories. 
Take of 
Tannic Acid.36 parts. 
Benzoated Lard.44 parts. 
White Wax.10 parts. 
Oil of Theobroma.90 parts. 
Melt the wax and oil of theobroma with a gentle heat, 
then add the tannic acid and benzoated lard, previously 
rubbed together in a mortar, and mix all the ingredients 
thoroughly. Pour the mixture while it is fluid into 
suitable moulds to form suppositories, each of which 
shall weigh about 15’4 grains, or 1 gram. 
In the formulae for lozenges more considerable 
alteration would be necessary, but in making such 
alteration the processes might be simplified, as far 
as the descriptions are concerned, and the propor¬ 
tions among the ingredients made definite. One 
instance will illustrate the whole :— 
Seduced Iron Lozenges. 
Take of 
Reduced Iron.10 parts. 
Refined Sugar, in powder . . 250 parts. 
Gum Acacia, in powder ... 15 parts. 
Mucilage of Gum Acacia ... 30 parts. 
Distilled Water ...... a sufficiency. 
Mix the iron, sugar and gum, and add the mucilage 
and water to form a proper mass. Divide into lozenges, 
each of which shall contain 1 grain, or 6-4 centigrams, of 
reduced iron. Dry them in a hot-air chamber with a 
moderate heat. 
The only remaining part of the processes and de¬ 
scriptions in the Pharmacopoeia that I have to refer 
to is that which relates to the applications of tests. 
There is no difficulty here in the employment of 
proportional and relational numbers, provided the 
