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THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[April 27, 1872. 
“ The school at Bloomsbury Square may, and does, answer 
for the metropolis, but is it suitable to the provinces ? We [ 
provinces—answer, No!” I should like to know of whom 
this “ we ” consists. In the opinion of many well 
qualified to judge, the number of country schools (?) is 
sufficient, and in some cases more than sufficient, for 
all intents and purposes. Does J. P. desire to have a 
school in each provincial town ? If so, has he ever thought 
of the expense of supporting each school? I dare venture 
to say that £200 a year could very soon be expended upon 
one couutry school if it were conducted properly. What, for j 
instance, would a respectable, highly qualified teacher of 1 
chemistry (a great desideratum) require, say, for fifty de¬ 
monstrations in practical chemistry, and fifty lectures = 100 
lessons? Is he not entitled to £100 for this? And how 
would this amount of money be raised? Could the local 
association contribute £50, and would the fees from the mem¬ 
bers in that country town amount to so much as to make up 
the £100—these fees of the members going at present into 
the Society’s coffers according to J. P.’s views. 
But only one subject is thus provided for. A teacher of 
chemistry might be got to go through a course of instruction 
for £30 or £40; but anyone who knows what sound chemistry 
is would immediately conclude that to do the job for this 
price, it would be done in a slip-shod manner; for £10 would 
be required for the demonstrations alone. 
Then come difficulties connected with pharmacy, botany, 
andmateriamedica, subjects equally important with chemistry, 
but which I cannot now dwell upon. J. P. mentions a gen¬ 
tleman giving his services gratuitously. A competent person 
giving his labours for nothing is what wo very rarely see. 
All those whose learning has cost much are not very willing 
to impart it for nothing. Some persons may be found to do 
so; but do they not clo it for publicity, popularity, or ap¬ 
plause, of which they soon become tired, finding it a losing 
game ? Therefore an association should not rely upon volun¬ 
tary teachers. It strikes me that the proper teacher, who 
would of course show his qualifications or diplomas, would 
demand, and justly so, a suitable recompense for his services. 
Ifow many of our better chemists take apprentices for no¬ 
thing? How many are willing to diffuse their learning 
gratuitously? Are they not authorized to expect a good 
return for capital invested in acquiring their knowledge? 
“ Many associations are beginning to suffer.” Yes, and in 
my opinion they always will suffer. I could say something 
on the impossibility of maintaining a school in the country; 
but this subject I must defer for the present. 
Lastly, J. P. says, “ Is it not the duty of the parent society 
to grant £300 a year to the provincial associations?” No! 
because doing so would be unfair, undesirable, impracticable, 
impossible. Again, why no ? If the £300 were spent upon 
one association alone, it would not be a halfpenny more than 
would be required. 
Let us look beyond our own body and profit by the ex¬ 
perience of others. Has the Royal Yeterinary College any 
country schools? Why? How many country schools has 
the Royal College of Surgeons ? And why is it proposed to 
close them? IIow many other learned societies have not 
country schools, and why? 
A Country Major Associate. 
Tinct. Perri Perchloripi. 
Sir,—With reference to the note on Tinct. Ferri Perchlor. 
B. P., by Mr. Wilson, in a recent Journal, I would suggest 
the following as a still more simple and economical formula 
than the one he there gives:— 
Liq. Ferri Perchlor. Fort. §v. 
Aq. Destillat. §v. 
Sp. Yini Rect. §x. 
This I have been using for some time with most satisfac¬ 
tory results, and since the Spirit. Yini Rect. is not only a 
useless, but expensive ingredient, the above formula might, 
I think, be conscientiously adopted, the addition of water 
being preferable to glycerine, as it would be keeping nearer 
to the official form. 
Gr. C. Druce. 
Small Debts Bill. 
Sir,—I am surprised no one has noticed your judicious 
reference to Mr. Bass’s preposterous attempt at legislation on 
small debts. Every tradesman I have mentioned it to seems 
ignorant of the matter, and almost the universal remark is, 
“ Surely a Bill attempting such absurd injustice will never 
pass;” but we see a man of business like Mr. Bass introduces 
it, and if no opposition is expressed, it may slip through the 
House. Surely every chemist should write to his member 
about it, and urge his neighbour tradesman to do the same. 
It would be worth while for each one also to send a post-card 
to Mr. Bass himself. This would surely prevent his ever 
attempting such a measure of confiscation again. No doubt 
his intention is to prevent the mischief caused by the “ tally 
system,” by which pedlars push their goods on foolish cus¬ 
tomers; but to interfere with all legitimate retail trade to do 
this, is as wise and as necessary as it would be for the police 
to handcuff every man and woman in a fair to prevent pocket¬ 
picking. W. Symons. 
Barnstaple, April 22nd, 1872. 
A. P. S .—We consider that the means of preparation 
mentioned ought to be sufficient. 
“A Student.” —Redwood’s ‘Practical Pharmacy.’ 
“Inquirer” (London).—You are recommended to use an 
equivalent quantity of chemically dry sulphate of zinc. 
“ Inquirer ” (Aberdeen).—You would have to conform to 
the law prevailing in the particular State. 
I C. Andrews .—See an answer to a similar question at p. 663 
of the present volume. 
H. James .—A paper read by Mr. Abraham before the- 
Liverpool Association, printed atp. 711. 
X. Y. Z. —‘ How Crop3 Grow,’ published by Macmillan 
and Co. 
“An Assistant.” —(1.) No. (2.) No. (3.) It should be- 
labelled, “ Shake the bottle.” 
U. JEdmonds. —We should think the Collodium Flexile, 
B.P. is intended. 
“A Student.” —(1.) Yes, within a fraction. (2.) To pre¬ 
vent loss of phosphate of lime: see Dr. Tilden’s ‘ Chapters- 
j for Students,’ Yol. I. p. 844. 
J. UorncastJe .—We have applied to the author of the 
paper, who informs us that a reference to the original formula 
shows that the quantity should be one grain. 
C. II. — (1.) One to three fluid drachms. (2.) Yes. 
H. Bayson. —Yermin killers of any kind can only be sold 
by registered chemists and druggists. It is not necessary to 
label phosphorus paste, but we think it would be expedient 
to do so. 
S. N. Uolyate .—It is a point on which there is a dif¬ 
ference of opinion whether vermin killers containing strych¬ 
nine or arsenic should not be dealt with as directed for poisons 
in the first part of Schedule A. 
“ Ranunculus.” —Instructions are given in most elementary- 
works on botany. 
“A (Very) Modified Man.” —The subject is one upon 
which we cannot express an opinion; it is rather a matter 
for mutual arrangement between the parties concerned. 
J. Smith .—Several memoirs by M. Pasteur on the subject 
have been read before the French Academy, and are printed 
in the ‘Comptes Rcndus.’ 
“An Assistant.” —The Pharmacy Act does not prescribe 
any restriction. With regard to the second part of the 
question, our correspondent’s own sense of right and wrong 
should enable him to answer it as well as we could. 
TV. B. Richards. —(1 and 2.) We are not aware of any 
danger, or (3) any fatal accident that has resulted from its - 
use. (4.) This question is upon a medical subject. (5.) It 
would depend upon the nature of the impurity. 
“Dominus Salus Mea” and TV. U. Barr Hamilton. — 
We have forwarded your letters to the Board of Examiners, 
who will doubtless take them into consideration before the 
next examination. 
“ Chemicus.” —Several recipes for the preparation are given, 
in Beasley’s ‘ Druggists’ Receipt Book.’ 
IF". Wilson. —The only notice of which we are aware, is in 
the second series, Vol. I. p. 42. We expect to be able to give 
some further information shortly. 
“ Pharmaceutist .” —The fruit of Physalis Alkekenyi 
(N. O. Solanacese) is slightly acid, and is eaten in Arabia and 
some parts of the Continent. It is diuretic, and is used in 
veterinary practice. 
Communication’s, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. R. C. Mason, Mr. C. S. Miller, Messrs. Paris, Mr. Noble, 
Mr. Strachan, Mr. A. Tanner, Mr. Rimmington, Mr. Lamb,-. 
Messrs. Southall, Son, and Dvmond, Mr. J. Abraham, Mr- 
Weaver. E. B., “Dulcamara,” “Aroma.” 
