G20 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 27, 1872 . 
Syrup op Tolu and Cinnamic Acid. 
Sir,—Mr. Alumbray is clearly in the wrong groove. If he will 
kindly turn to the Pharmaceutical Journal, 3rd series, 
No. 70, p. 467, lines 2 and 21 from the top, second column, 
he will see at once that it was the mixture of cinnamic and 
benzoic acid which is to be separated by filtration from the 
cold liquid before being added to the sugar; that to these 
crystals, suspended in the syrup, is imputed the probability 
of exciting irritation; the resin falls to the bottom of the 
vessel in which it is boiled with the water, the small light 
particles floating on the surface, but for the acid, could be sepa¬ 
rated either hot or cold by ordinary straining through muslin 
or otherwise. The noteworthy remark from ‘ L’Oflicine de 
Pharmacie pratique ’ is a misconception; for if by the use of 
common water (which should not be used), containing suffi¬ 
cient lime in it, benzoate of lime were formed, it would remain 
in solution, and it would be necessary to evaporate the solu¬ 
tion to obtain the crystals; whereas, if cinnamate of lime 
were produced, and which would be the expected and natural 
result, this cinnamate of lime would crystallize out upon 
cooling, and be readily separated by filtration, and from it 
pure cinnamic acid might be obtained; whilst the benzoate 
of lime would remain in solution in the mother-liquor, this 
being, in fact, the distinguishing test between the two. With 
respect to the lozenges mentioned, I could say much about 
them and the state of the ingredients in them, but it would 
be occupying space needlessly, and I feel that quite sufficient 
ventilation has been accorded to this subject. 
A. F. Haselden. 
18, Conduit Street, 22 nd January, 1872. 
Observations on Practical Pharmacy. 
Sir,—From correspondence in the Journal, I see that Mr. 
Charles Symes and Mr. G. Welborn have observed different 
and somewhat contradictory results in dispensing a mixture 
containing tinct. guaiaci. With the former gentleman, the 
resin “ will deposit in lumps;” while the latter is able to sus¬ 
pend it in a finely divided condition. 
I am convinced, from my experience, that the difference is 
not at all, or at least not so much, owing to varied manipula¬ 
tion as to the condition and age of the tincture. 
When freshly made, tinct. guaiaci will emulsify readily, 
but, when long kept, the result obtained by Mr. Symes is 
almost sure to be observed. 
JonN Whitfield, F.C.S. 
Scarborough, January 12>th, 1872. 
Benevolent Fund. 
Sir,—I read with some interest a letter in your Journal, 
written by Mr. Stevenson, of Ripon, with reference to the 
Benevolent Fund. 
I have not one word to say as regards the proposition for 
increasing the resources of that fund, or as to the means ad¬ 
vocated for so doing. 
My present purpose is to elicit information which will be 
useful to myself and, may be, to others. 
Mr. Stevenson says there is not one subscriber to this fund 
in the city of York. Now, when I became a member of the 
Pharmaceutical Society and paid two guineas entrance fee 
and one guinea annual subscription, I certainly did so with 
the idea that I was, to some extent, supporting the Benevo¬ 
lent Fund, as well as other institutions in connection with the 
Society. 
This view of the case was all the more confirmed to 
my mind, by the fact of each member being allowed two 
votes. 
I shall, therefore, be glad to know the truth of the case, as 
my action for the future will very much depend upon your 
reply. 
In my endeavours to persuade others to join the Pharma¬ 
ceutical Society, I have always dwelt upon the claims of the 
Benevolent Fund as an inducement; but this was because I 
really believed that it was an efficient means of helping that 
valuable institution. 
It certainly seems to me that if any portion of our sub¬ 
scriptions really does benefit this fund, it cannot be truly said 
we are not subscribers to it; and, I think, the call is more im¬ 
perative by far upon those who, not being members, give no 
material support whatever to a Society from which it is, in 
my humble opinion, very short-sighted policy to keep aloof. 
20, High Ousegate, York, W. C. Hayland. 
January 17 th, 1872. 
Labelling,—Hale doing it,—or, Prevention better 
than Cure. 
The incautious mode of labelling is a frequent cause of 
trouble to the chemist; nevertheless, some will persist in half 
doing it, often to their sorrow. The other day, for instance, 
a case came under my notice, where a lady sent her servant 
to a chemist, near by, to pimcure some paregoric for her cold: 
an ounce was supplied; the bottle was labelled “ Paregoric 
Elixir,” with name and address of seller and one of the new 
poison labels. This was all very well and quite right, but 
where was she to find the dose ? It was explained to the ser¬ 
vant, but she forgot and evidently gave instructions ac random 
(5ij pro dosi, si opus sit). The dose was repeated three times 
in four hours (the patient was of weak constitution and un¬ 
accustomed to opiates or the like); in the course of an hour, 
as may be supposed, the patient became very unvveli, and of 
course very uneasy. She sent to the chemist to know what 
to do; the usual remedies were applied, and all things set 
right again very soon. Now, had the dose been printed on the 
label these ill-effects would not have been caused; on the 
other hand, had the patient lived in the country—far from 
medical aid—greater anxiety and trouble would undoubtedly 
have followed, and the chemist branded with a bad name in 
that locality; but fortunately it occurred near to hand, and 
all the after unpleasantnesses were remedied by explanation. 
May I beg to recommend that all such medicines be labelled 
with the dose attached, when chemists will be relieved con¬ 
siderably of what otherwise might happen, i. e. “a good blow¬ 
ing up.” A number of small eruptions aggregated together 
form a large one, which ensues in a general burst, distri¬ 
buting its contents over the whole parish. 
Scarborough, January 19 tli, 1872. W. R. F. 
W. AT. Y. Z. —The Pharmacy Act only requires that you 
should pass the specified examinations. 
“ Chemicus.”- —You may obtain what you require from any 
philosophical instrument maker. 
J. B. Carr .—Probably the fault lies in your aniline black. 
C. Parkinson. —The ‘Chemists and Druggists’ Almanack 7 
is the nearest approach to what you require, that we knew of. 
JET. AT.—See the articles on the subject of “ Glucose,” in the 
first volume of this series, pp. 323, 794. 
A. P. S. —Amu probably used liquor potassoe, B. P., which 
would be too weak for the purpose. The solution should 
have been as strong as possible in order to dissolve its own 
volume of phenol. 
“ Musci.” —(1.) The flower sent is a Poinsettia. (2.) It is 
permissible to use the foreign oil. (3.) We are unable to name 
the mosses sent. 
L. S. P. —Amu would probably find a receipt in Cooley’s 
‘ Practical Receipts ’ or Beasley’s ‘ Receipt Book.’ 
S. S. —The legal difficulties of the question are too great 
for us to solve. See the case reported on p. 617 of the pre¬ 
sent number. 
J. H. Barr 010 . —It may be prepared in the same manner 
as the succus conii, B. P. 
The following journals have been received:—The ‘British 
Medical Journal,’ Jan. 20; the ‘Medical Times and Gazette, 7 
Jan. 20 ; the ‘ Lancet,’ Jan. 20; the ‘ Medical Press and Cir¬ 
cular,’ Jan. 24 ; ‘Nature,’ Jan. 20; the ‘Chemical News,’ 
Jan. 20; ‘English Mechanic,’ Jan. 19; ‘ Gardeners’ Chro¬ 
nicle,’ Jan. 20; the ‘Grocer,’ Jan. 20; the ‘Journal of the 
Society of Arts,’ Jan. 13; the ‘American Journal of Phar¬ 
macy ’ for January; the ‘American Chemist’ for January; 
the ‘Leavenworth Journal of Pharmacy’ for January; the 
‘Wrexham Free Press,’Jan. 20; the ‘Manchester Courier,’ 
Jan. 19; the ‘Salopian,’ Jan. 20. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. E. Agnew, Mr. J. M. Fairlie, Mr. P. L. Simmonds, Mr. 
Cross, Mr. T. B. Groves, Messrs. Domeier, Mr. Leach, Mr. 
Pocklington, Mr. J. R. Jackson, Mr. B. Keen, Air. C. R. 
Alarkham, Air. E. Scott, M. P. S., A. P. S., S. R., “ Yanilla,” 
“Chemicus,” “Dispenser,” “Birchcliffe.” 
“ An Anxious One ” and “ T. S. AY.” have not complied with 
the regulation as to anonymous communications. 
