934 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[June 1, 1872. 
E. Live Earthworms, having a red Circle on their Necks 
No. 21 , bruise them in a Marble Mortar with Currants cleansed 
51 V., adding Ehenisli Wine Ibiij., Crystal Mineral (dissolved 
in the Wine) 5 SS, strain and make it very limpid and pure 
by often passing it through Hippocrates his sleeves. Dose 5 iij 
thrice a day with Aqua Cinnamomi hordeata 5 ]’. It is a noble 
Diuretick. 
Vinum Viperinum. 
II. Live FemaleYipers, gathered in the Spring time, No. vj. 
digest them (the vessel being stopt) without heat for six 
months, in lbvj. best Spanish v;ine or Canary, then strain 
out for use. It is a most celebrated thing against the Leper 
Grocorum or Leprosie, the Elephantiasia, Barreness, Plague, 
&c., and prolongs Life. Dose ~iij. or ^iv. twice a day for some 
considerable time. 
Syrupus Limacutn. Syrup of Snails. 
II. Garden Snails gathered before the Rising of the Sun, 
freed from their shells and cut in pieces lbj. Sugar Candy in 
fine powder lbss., mix them and put them into Hippocrates 
His Sleeve in a Cellar, that the Liquor may drop through in a 
syrup. Dose j. spoonful every hour, in Ulcers of the Lungs, 
Consumptions, &c. 
Spiritus Sanguinis. 
Distil it from the Blood of a sound young Man, putrefied 
in Sand, aud then rectifieit, S. A. 
I might go on multiplying formulas equally! quaint and 
nasty, but hesitate to encroach on your space. 
C. S. Miller. 
Newport, Isle of Wight. 
April 18th, 1872. 
Pharmaceutical Mnemonics. 
Sir,—That 50 per cent, of those who enroll for the Minor 
examinations are frequently “plucked” can by no means 
encourage the numerous candidates; however, each has his 
lling, and trusts that the gods will be propitious and the 
examiners not too severe. Sometimes the greatest “ muff ’ 
succeeds, and the intelligent mind who could hardly endure 
the drudgery of cramming the Pharmacopoeia receives a 
remittance of two guineas, with a polite intimation that ho 
may resume his studies for another three months. One reason 
that so many fail is that, being obliged to devote so much time 
in committing to memory the compositions and proportions 
of the multitudinous preparations of the Pharmacopoeia, little 
time remains for the far more important and interesting 
studies of chemistry and botany. But since the examiners 
are inexorable, and their laws, like those of the Medes aud 
Persians, unalterable, cannot something be done to lighten 
our load? Since no man cares to remember two hours after 
he has passed his examination the composition of charta 
epispastica, or the infinity of preparations into which 
cinnamon, ginger, and camphor may enter,—could not the 
“sublime crammer” Stokes come to our assistance? 
Many mnemonical systems have been tried, but the majority 
have failed from their impracticability, and their ponderous 
machinery. Perhaps one of the simplest methods of com¬ 
mitting to memory is by association, and the occasional use 
of doggerel rhymes. Who could forget that cegle marmelos 
belonged to the Natural Order Aurantiaceae, if he would only 
associate Manners and Marmalade ? What schoolboy does 
not remember the exceptions to the general rule of nouns of 
the second declension ending in us, from the fact that, 
“Alvus, humus, vannus, colus, 
Though belonging to the second, 
Are feminine ; and virus (juice), 
With pelagus, are neuter reckoned; 
Yulgus mostly goes with these, 
But may be masculine if you please ”? 
When the ingredients to a preparation are numerous, it 
may be useful to compose a distich, as for, 
Emplastrum Calefaciens, 
Resin, Wax, Soap, Plaster, and Nutmeg Oil, 
Resin, Plaster, and Elies (the water must boil). 
Or three lines may be required as for Mistura Ferri Aromatica: 
Let the bark, cloves, calumba and finest iron wire, 
With mint water stand till three days expire, 
Tinctures, orange, and Cardamoms then ye’ll require; I 
or the hexameter verse may sometimes serve as for Emplas¬ 
trum Cantharidis, 
Cantharidis, resin, and wax, and then there’s suet and lard. 
It may be occasionally necessary to find some strange re¬ 
semblance betwixt words; imagine an examiner showing you 
some Pareira root, and asking you what it was, what would bo 
your immediate reply ? “ Cissampei'os Pareira.” Resembling, 
“This sample is Pareira.” Or sometimes things maybe easily 
remembered from the fact that they are not what their 
names would indicate. I have never failed to recognize the- 
root of the Yeratrum viride, the moment I remarked that 
though viride may mean green, this root has a decidedly 
yellow tinge ; and I can easily remember that though bis may 
mean twice, bismuth has not bivalent but trivalent quanti- 
valence. When you wdsli to remember the atomic weight 
of iron, think of an iron 56 lb. weight falling on your toes. 
That the egg which is ordered in the Pharmacopoeia in the- 
preparation of the Mistura Spiritus Yini Gallici, is obtained 
from the Gallus Banckiva will never be forgotten if you will 
picture to yourself a French cock crowing on a bank; or that 
the Sambucus nigra belongs to the Natural Order Capri- 
foliacete, the moment one imagines a goat eating elder leaves 
in a country lane. 
The fertile genius of the pharmaceutical student will 
furnish him with a thousand mnemonical tricks if he will 
only habituate himself; and the more ridiculous the similarity 
which may exist betwixt the two ideas, the more easily wilL 
they be remembered. 
Let us hope that some day a little less drudgery and more- 
science will be required of us, in the meantime we wilL 
humbly bend to the yoke of our venerable and worthy ex¬ 
aminers and cram. S. F. E. 
Tinct. Ferri Perciiloridi. 
Sir,—I have just observed, in p. 806 of the Journal, Mr. 
Wilson’s suggestion respecting Tinct. Ferri Perchlor., and 
incline to query whether a still better plan would not be ta 
use equal parts of Sp. Yini. Rect. and Aq. Dost, for diluting; 
the strong solution. This makes it keep well, and for retail¬ 
ing at any rate the use of weaker spirit need hardly bo- 
objected to. 
April mh, 1872. J. F. T. 
Messrs. Curling and Co. —Your communication to the 
‘ Daily News ’ did not appear until after last week’s number of 
this Journal had gone to press. 
W. G-. TapUn. —We are unable to understand your ques¬ 
tion. We know of no such class as that to which you appear- 
to refer. 
“Dyson.” —(1.) Mix the essential oils with the olive oil' 
and shake with an equal bulk of water; then pour in the- 
alkalies gradually, shaking after each addition; next add the- 
remainder of the water, and lastly the tinct. cantharid. (2.)- 
The work mentioned is a very good one. 
G.—An answer to your question will be given in a future- 
number. 
31. P. S. —We are not able to give any reply to your 
question, which is one that falls within the province of a 
medical man. 
“Lux.” —We think the label you propose would require a 
stamp, but recommend you to consult the Excise authorities- 
at Somerset House. 
J. Davidson. — (l.) Ranunculaceae. (2.) Leguminosoo;. 
(3.) Aurantiaceie. 
“ Pharmacist .” — They could be ordered through Messrs. 
Williams and Norgate, Henrietta Street, Messrs. Triibner,.. 
Paternoster Row, or any respectable foreign bookseller. 
J. LLindle. —There is no limitation as to age. 
“ Cecil.” —(l.j You will find formula) for Liq. Qiiinae- 
Ammon, on pp. 675 and 737 of the first volume of the 
present series. (2.) Bentley’s ‘Manual,’ Oliver’s‘Elementary 
Botar.y,’ or Cooke’s ‘ Structural Botany.’ (3.) The usual 
subscription for the current year. 
P. Z.— Chi'rata. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. H. Long, Mr. Rimmington, Mr. R. Procter, “ Delta ’’ 
“ Shade of Cocker,” T. B. 
