ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PHARMACOPOEIA. 
5G7 
plicit, easily pronounced and used both in English and Latin, consistent one 
with another, and not inconsistent in their signification with those used for 
other purposes. Names already in use, if they fulfil these conditions, are pre¬ 
ferable to new names. The nomenclature of the Pharmacopoeia should, as far as 
possible, be adapted for all time, and such a nomenclature, if once established, 
should not be rashly changed or altered. It is obviously useless, therefore, to 
attempt a scientific nomenclature, especially in the chemical part of the Phar¬ 
macopoeia, for such a nomenclature is constantly changing, and is often very 
deficient in some of the qualities required. The changes in the names applied 
to calomel and corrosive sublimate were the most serious errors of this descrip¬ 
tion committed in the preparation of the British Pharmacopoeia ; but it is satis¬ 
factory to find that with this exception there are very few names in the whole 
work that have been objected to. The names applied to the preparations of 
iron, and, with the exceptions named, to those of mercury, potassium, etc., are 
perhaps as good as could be given for the purpose contemplated. In two or 
three instances, however, a slight change might be suggested. Thus, as emetic 
tartar is very suitably called Antimonium tartaratum ; Bochelle salr might con¬ 
sistently have been called Sodium tartaratum , but I should prefer the name 
Soda tartarata , as being more in accordance with other names applied to the 
sodium and potassium salts. The names that have been given to calomel and 
corrosive sublimate cannot be left as they are, and yet it is desirable not to make 
more change than is necessary. There are hundreds of prescriptions in daily 
use in which calomel is ordered under the name of Hydrargyri Chloridum , and 
this should, at any rate, be retained as a synonym for Calomelas , and ought on 
no account to be used to represent corrosive sublimate. The name Hydrargyri 
Subchloridum , which, as well as Calomelas , is given to calomel, appears to me to 
be unobjectionable, and would perhaps be the best that could be used where the 
familiar name Calomelas is objected to on account of its being too easily under¬ 
stood by patients. The name Hydrargyri corrosivum sublimatum is objection¬ 
able on account of its length. It might be shortened by omitting the first word 
(Hydrargyri), and it would then correspond with Calomelas in representing the 
familiar English name of the substance ; but this, while in some respects it is an 
advantage, is subject to the objection already stated, that it is too easily under¬ 
stood by patients. If the name Hydrargyri Chloridum be restored to its former 
place, and put as a synonym for Hydrargyri Subchloridum , how are we to re¬ 
present corrosive sublimate as a chloride of mercury? It is not desirable to re¬ 
turn to the use of the name Hydrargyri Bichloridum , because this involves a 
theory, to which, if we are to have a permanent nomenclature, it is necessary 
that we should not be committed. The name subchloride, applied to calomel, 
indicates its position among the chlorides of mercury, as containing the smaller 
proportion of chlorine. It is preferable in this respect to the name chloride, as 
being more explicit, and leaving no doubt as to which of the chlorides is meant. 
I would suggest that the name Hydrargyri Perchloridum should be applied to 
corrosive sublimate, the prefix per , as used in such a case, being perfectly well 
understood to signify the compound containing the largest proportion of chlorine. 
It is unimportant to inquire whether chemists are accustomed to represent two 
compounds occupying the respective positions of calomel and corrosive sublimate, 
the one as a subsalt and the other as a persalt. Our object here should be not 
so much to assimilate our nomenclature to that of the scientific men of the day, 
as to adopt an explicit and a convenient nomenclature which is founded as 
little as possible upon mere theory. We know nothing of the atomic consti¬ 
tution of these bodies, but we do know the relative proportions of their consti¬ 
tuents. It is desirable to have names for these chlorides that shall assimilate 
them with the other compounds of mercury, and by which they may be included 
consecutively with the mercurials in an alphabetical list of Materia Medica, and 
