1024 
THE PHABMACEUTICAL JOTJBRAL ARD TBARSACTIORS. 
[June 15, 1872. 
Sir,—l n a previous letter I stated tliat to aid the country 
schools would be very unfair; to support this remark, as 
well as to say a word or two upon another subject, is my ob¬ 
ject in writing again. 
Unfair, first, to the Majors and Minors who have been 
induced to proceed to London and elsewhere to acquire a 
good pharmaceutical training, at very great expense to them¬ 
selves ; the aim of the proposed scheme being to make the 
obtaining of degrees easier and cheaper than it has been 
to those already passed. 
Unfair, also, to members in business, that their subscrip¬ 
tions should be appropriated to a cause which they really do 
not care to support. Unfair to the registered apprentice 
who lias passed his Preliminary examination, and paid his 
fees, since the country schools make no distinction between 
registered and unregistered students, but admit all to the 
course of instruction for the same fees, the unregistered 
not having to pay double fees for learning, as in London. 
Unfair, lastly, to every one enrolled into the Society, on 
account of its not being a good general scheme. 
Why should the members, associates or apprentices at 
Tadcaster contribute to a society which supports a school at 
Manchester, but not one injtheir own town or village, which 
has as good a claim for aid from the Pharmaceutical Society 
as any larger place has ? .... 
Were the scheme for Provincial Education a fair, possible, 
general and practicable one, not a murmur would be heard ; 
but since it has been shown to be the contrary, discontent 
must be expected from a large number opposed to it.. It the 
Society has more money in hand than it needs, let it return 
to its members a percentage of the fees already contributed. 
A few days ago we heard in a whisper what we must expect 
to hear in a loud tone by-and-by, “ Gave me back my 
money.” , , , 
A o-ood deal is now said about pavment on results; but he 
who proposes to give the pharmaceutical teacher payments on 
the results of the examinations cannot have received pay¬ 
ments on the same system himself, especially during the past 
few years. Had he done so, he would not lecommend a plan 
which, in its working, is nasty, mean and derogatory, and 
also a’great barrier to the obtaining of good teachers. All 
teachers in the country are opposed to it, considering it most 
debasino-in principle.' Would our professors in Bloomsbury 
Square,^or any other good teacher, like to be paid according 
to the results of the examinations ? Ask any one also if the 
system of ££ coaching up ” a student which is adopted by a 
teacher receiving payments on results is to be recommended. 
I would vastly like to ask Dr. Frankland if he would submit 
to this system which has been imposed upon others by the 
system of science teaching, in the management of which he 
has had a part. Certainly, examination papers have been 
framed to match the amount ot money in hand; and what 
was seen twelve months since ? Science teachers and stu¬ 
dents all dissatisfied. What do we behold now ? The tumbling 
down of this system; the best teachers gone, having become, 
disgusted with it; and perhaps one-sixth of the number of 
science teachers and students now that there were last year. 
Dr. Erankland, however, may not be to blame for this, 
having perhaps been obliged ££ to put on the screw in order 
to comply with the “regulations” of our present Govern- 
The question of Provincial Education has many difficulties. 
Professors Kedwood, Attfield, and Bentley may be able to 
give us some new information. May Upropose that they 
each be invited to read a paper upon it at some evening 
meeting ? 
A Country Major Associate. 
The Preliminary Examination. 
* gi v _The letter in your Journal of May 25th, signed ££ An¬ 
other’who failed on April 8th,” must surely be intended for 
satire, as it is scarcely credible that any one womd seri¬ 
ously own to such dense ignorance. What a libel on the 21 
youncr men at Manchester ! No knowledge of the elements 
of arithmetic at Manchester of all places in . the world. 
The 21 will, doubtless, in your next issue repudiate the base 
calumny. I had hoped in this age of education to sleep 
quietly in my grave, but the dreadful confession of your cor¬ 
respondent so troubled me that I could, no longer rest. 
Hoping that I may not be so disturbed again, 
t & The Shade of Cocker. 
Sir,—I have read with great interest and pleasure the' 
letter signed ££ One who has known the drug trade more than 
thirty years,” and with one important exception I quite- 
agree with what he has written. Until pharmacists set 
themselves determinedly against binding youths before they 
have passed the Preliminary examination, I consider if vain 
to expect apprentices to show much improvement. The 
youth he speaks of, who from his previous training ought to- 
have been, and probably was, able to have gone up direct 
from school and passed his Preliminary, is, after two years, 
thought unable to do it; for carelessness and indifference 
have set in, and such a youth, knowing that he can have a 
reprieve for four or five years, makes no proper effort to 
keep up his knowledge. Had he passed before he was- 
bound what energy he possessed would have been available 
for obtaining a practical knowledge of his business, and by 
the time his apprenticeship expired, he should have been able- 
to pass his Minor examination. 
One who has known the Drug Trade 
More than Forty Years. 
Pharmaceutical Mnemonics. 
Sir,—I wonder whether your ingenious corresponden t r 
£ S. F. E.’ has come across the following form for conf. sennoe- 
££ Coriander, tamarinds, 
Senna, prunes and sugar refined ; 
Water, figs and cassia nice, 
Made into a mass with liquorice.” 
Or, as to Sassafras: 
££ Pray, Mr. Sassafras, where will you go? 
Into Decoctum Sarsse co. ?” 
If not, I am pleased to introduce them to his notice. 
J. Burt. 
Worthing, June 1st. 1872. 
JEJ. W. Sotve .—We are unable to give insertion to your 
letter. 
S. N .—You cannot do better than follow one of the works- 
mentioned in the official announcement respecting the prize. 
“Apprentice.” —You should apply at Apothecaries’ Hall. 
G. —No. 2. 
J. Wright. —We believe the excise authorities do not 
construe the Act strictly in reference to such a label as that- 
sent by you. It would, however, be safer to apply at Somer- 
sot House. 
J. S. D. JenJcinson is thanked for his communication. 
<£ Veritas.” —The President desires us to refer Veritas to 
the rule as to anonymous communications. 
££ Law.” —Your question is a legal one; and without know¬ 
ledge of the special circumstances, we hesitate to express an 
opinion. . 
JR. J. If.—Medicated pessaries are generally made to weigh 
two drachms each; and when moulded in proper moulds, they 
have the shape of a rifle bullet, but broader. They may be- 
prepared with oil of theobroma as a basis, although those- 
containing salts like bromide of potassium, would be bettei 
prepared with a material made according to the formula given 
at p. 446 of the first volume of the present series of this- 
Journal. This question was received too late to be answered 
in last week’s Journal. , . „ . , . , , r 
J. J E. JR.—The prescription sent (a formula which Mr. 
Erasmus Wilson often prescribes) makes a mixture of a clear 
sap-green colour. It is best prepared by rubbing the citrate, 
acid, and svrup together until dissolved, then adding the- 
tincture, etc" Tincture of orange, varies very much in colour: 
if prepared from good dried thin English peel, it will be of 
a pale sherry colour. This may partly account for the dif¬ 
ference you mention. 
J JEJ Lord. —According to your request we have submitted 
your letter to Mr. Joseph Ince, and you will find his reply 
Drinted on the previous page. 
* “ Victim.” —We do not think there would be any difficulty 
in inserting such an advertisement as that you refer to, it 
forwarded to the proper quarter. 
S. Sagar. —The article referred to has been stated by two 
or three respectable authorities to be a narcotic, and until 
this is disproved, we do not see that the conjectures put torth 
by you affect the question. 
T 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. P. Bedford, Mr. Eimmington, Mr. Henty, Mr. Druce. 
