December 9,1871.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
471 
C(je pjaraattriol journal. 
-♦-- 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 0, 1S71. 
Communications for this Journal , and boohs for review,etc., 
should be addressed to the Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square. 
Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the 
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Elias Bkem- 
ridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square. 7F.C. 
Advertisements to Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington 
Street, London, IF. Envelopes indorsed “ Bharm. Journ.” 
THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA. 
Professor Redwood lias brought before the So¬ 
ciety a subject of very considerable interest and im¬ 
portance, and one with which he is especially quali¬ 
fied to deal. We print his paper in extenso, and 
recommend a careful perusal of it to all, whether 
pharmacists or medical practitioners, who are in¬ 
terested in the improvement of the art of pharmacy. 
The main question under consideration is, as to the 
desirability of introducing some alteration into the 
system of weights and measures at present em¬ 
ployed in the prescribing, dispensing and compound¬ 
ing medicines, so as to do away, at least to some 
extent, with what cannot be regarded other than 
as a reproach to British pharmacy. We are the 
possessors of a Pharmacopoeia which we are justly 
proud of, since, having regard to all its features, it is 
unrivalled in the world for accuracy, conciseness 
and general practical tone, but, so long as the 
present anomalous system of quantities remains in 
use, it can never approach much nearer to com¬ 
pleteness. 
Professor Redwood has suggested the substitu¬ 
tion of proportional or relational numbers for speci¬ 
fied weights and measures in the description of 
processes in the Pharmacopoeia; but we cannot 
help thinking that should his suggestion be adopted, 
it will be only as a temporary expedient, merely 
paving the way for the introduction of a more per¬ 
fect s}'stem. 
We look forward to the day when a decimal 
system of some kind will be introduced into all 
dealings with quantities. 
The metric weights and measures are being 
taught to most boys and girls throughout the country, 
and as the merits of the system come to be more 
and more extensively recognized, this instruction 
will become an essential part of primary school 
education. 
We may, therefore, fairly calculate on this 
general introduction of decimals some twenty or 
five-and-twenty years hence. In the meantime, a 
provisional system, adapted to the purposes of the 
Pharmacopoeia and of pharmacy generally, will be 
acceptable ; and the proposals of Professor Red- 
wood seem likely to be subject to little objection be¬ 
yond that which attaches to change of any kind.. 
It will be seen from the discussion which ensued 
upon the reading of the paper, that it received a 
considerable amount of criticism, most of which was 
replied to, and to some extent successfully com¬ 
bated by the Professor. In addition to the points 
raised by the speakers on that occasion, we might 
suggest in reference to one of the difficulties met 
with in working out the plan, that the specific gra¬ 
vities of all the liquids employed are known, and, 
consequentl}', that it would be no difficult matter to- 
arrange the proportions of ingredients in those pre¬ 
parations in which both solids and liquids occur, so- 
that one part of each solid may be represented by 
an integral number of parts of the resulting so¬ 
lution or mixture, and yet the amount of liquid to be- 
employcd may be expressed in measures. Thus, in 
an instance quoted in the paper, it is proposed to 
weigh syrup instead of measuring it. But to avoid 
the dislike which some practical men might have to 
tliis, it would be simply necessary to divide the 
number of parts by weight by the specific gravity 
of syrup, and substitute in the formula this measurer 
for that weight. 
In the preparation of a new edition of the Phar¬ 
macopoeia, however, we do not anticipate for Pro¬ 
fessor Redwood a task of so much difficulty and 
labour as in the case of the last. Much experience 
has been gained and much information elicited from 
recent discussions. Pharmacists will be doing good 
service in the cause of their art by continuing to 
bring forward hints as they crop up in daily busi¬ 
ness, and a topic is now before them which well 
deserves their careful consideration. 
ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES. 
The British Medical Journal and the Lancet 
publish detailed accounts of the inquiries recently 
made at Londesborougli Lodge and in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Sandringham Hall. Amongst other things; 
that have been ascertained, indicating very defective- 
sanitary conditions, it appears that the water used, 
for domestic purposes at Sandringham is in a very 
unsatisfactory state, while at the neighbouring town 
of Lynn it is described as being no better than the- 
effluent water from a sewage farm. These condi¬ 
tions, which are capable of being so pernicious to 
health, appear to be referable to that want of any 
adequate means of dealing with domestic refuse,, 
which is au evil not confined to this district, but 
prevalent to a serious extent throughout the whole- 
country. 
CHICAGO. 
A dread calamity, the details of which are known 
to all the world, has happened to this prosperous and 
energetic city. It would be idle to describe the- 
terrible misfortune which the press has so faith¬ 
fully portrayed. Houses desolate, families desti¬ 
tute, and business stopped. In face of this baptism - 
of fire, England has to herself proved true, and 
nobly supported her character for benevolence. Help, 
from innumerable sources has arrived. Pharmacy 
has not stood aloof, and we refer with unmixed plea- 
