552 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS; 
[January 6,1872. 
poverty, and privation should bind us all together in 
one common brotherhood. Great praise is due to 
some of our Local Secretaries, who, by their own 
example and energetic canvass, have rendered essen¬ 
tial service. They have made the existence of the 
Fund known, and in a direct manner pointed out its 
usefulness amongst the trade. 
It is worthy of notice, that wherever the Local 
Secretary himself takes an interest in the work, the 
Fund flourishes, the good seed sown yields often an 
abundant harvest, and the list gives evidence that in 
some towns every Chemist and Druggist has con¬ 
tributed; while in the same place there are not 
wanting the names of many totally unconnected 
with pharmacy. 
Must we in this century, an age of noble endeavour 
and self-denial, defend or praise benevolence ? Shall 
we, who with unsparing hand help other countries, 
one not even speaking our own language, neglect 
our home duties, and starve our home liberalities ? 
Let not the widow and the orphan plead in vain; 
let misfortune tell her story of want and wretched¬ 
ness, and let scarce and dear provisions for once turn 
orator! 
So shall we enter upon the New Year with lighter 
hearts, for we shall have helped to bear each others’ 
burdens, and our own fireside shall glow all the 
more brightly when we reflect that we have kindled 
hope in many a desponding soul; and know that we 
have tried to resemble the Great Pattern who him¬ 
self became poor, that we through his poverty might 
be made rich. 
THE PHARMACEUTISTS’ ASPECT OF THE MEDICAL 
DECLARATION RESPECTING ALCOHOL. 
W e published last week the declaration respect¬ 
ing alcohol, which has been, and is, a leading subject 
of discussion in medical and other circles. There 
are, of course, pros and cons in this as in most other 
questions, but there can be little doubt that the 
“nip” of sherry between meals, and its continual 
multiplication between noon and the dinner hour, 
has much to do. with chronic alcoholism, a dis¬ 
ease that has increased more than cent, per cent, 
during the past ten years. But we refer to this sub¬ 
ject again, in order to indicate that there is an aspect 
of the matter specially pertinent to pharmaceutists. 
Will any of our readers (east or west, no matter) 
pause to consider how often they, or their assistants, 
are asked for “ pick-me-ups ” by their male, and for 
that popular composition commonly known as “ red 
lavender,” by their female clients? Have they any 
idea at all as to what proportion of gentian, lavender, 
and other tinctures, of eau de cologne, cliloral hy¬ 
drate, and compound spirits of ammonia sold is taken 
for really legitimate and beneficial purposes ? These 
are questions well worthy of consideration, and we 
believe that those of our readers, who consider them 
carefully in all their bearings, will come to the con¬ 
clusion that the sale of these articles for the plain 
purpose of producing an artificial stimulus to mental 
or physical exertion has, during the past few years, 
increased in a most marked degree, and to a most 
pernicious extent. We believe that chemists could, 
if required, give most valuable evidence on this 
point; for it is perfectly well known to all medical 
men practising in London that many of their upper 
and middle-class clients of the other sex, not daring 
to keep a brandy bottle in their closets, find never¬ 
theless a convenient and (as they suppose) a safe 
substitute in the imbibition of small and oft-repeated 
doses of lavender tinctures, eau de cologne, etc. 
And it is as patent that our readers must know a 
great deal about the way in which these articles are 
obtained, and can form also a tolerably correct idea 
as to the rate of consumption. In all matters re¬ 
lating to the health and well-being of our popula¬ 
tions the physician and the chemist may work most 
usefully together, and we take leave to suggest that, 
on some of the points above indicated, pharmaceu¬ 
tists might very well strengthen the hands of the 
medical profession in their laudable endeavours to 
stem the alcoholic current that is sapping the foun¬ 
dations of many grand intellects, and many brilliant 
minds in this big city. 
THE LIBRARY. 
It will be seen that in compliance with a wish which 
has been expressed, # the Council has decided that the 
Library shall be kept open on Tuesday and Thursday 
evenings from eight to ten o’clock. This arrangement 
is to be commenced at once, and trial made of it for 
three months. On two former occasions the experi¬ 
ment was tried, but the attendance was so small that 
it was discontinued; it is therefore 1 loped that now 
the Council has again provided for the alleged need 
there will not be wanting those who are ready to 
avail themselves of the privilege. 
We are informed that the Board of Trade has 
decided to substitute chlor-alum for the solution of 
chloride of zinc, at present included in the scale of 
medicines and medical stores, issued and caused to 
be published by that Board, in pursuance of the 
“ Merchant Shipping Act, 1867.” 
totsartim flf % fjprmmtaJ SmMj. 
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. 
January 3rd, 1871. 
MR. A. P. IIASELDEX, P.L.S., PRESIDEXT, IX THE CHAIR. 
Present—Messrs. Atherton, Betty, Carr, Greenish, 
Groves, Hills, Sandford, Shaw, Smith, Sutton and 
Williams. 
The minutes of the last meeting were read and con¬ 
firmed. 
The Report of the Finance Committee was presented, 
showing on the General Fund Account a balance in the 
Treasurer’s hands of £758. Is'. 9 d. 
On the Benevolent Fund Account a balance of 
£198. 18s. 5d. 
* See ante, p. 380. < 
