ON THE CALAMINE OF PHARMACY. 
307 
methylated spirit in the manufacture of tinctures is well known, the determi¬ 
nation of the Legislature to stop the practice will probably be soon equally 
well known. 
The price at which these tinctures were supplied varies, surely, to an un¬ 
necessary extent ? Two appear to have been sold at the rate of fourpence 
per ounce, three at about threepence, three at about twopence halfpenny, 
and three at twoi^ence per ounce. I have before me a retail price list, pub¬ 
lished in 1865, apparently, by an important and influential “ Committee,” 
but having no name, address, or other distinguishing mark, except a trade- 
price one—“ MEL BORACis,” —in which laudanum is marked at sixpence per 
ounce, and paregoric and tincture of rhubarb each at flvepence per ounce. 
Tlie laudanum of the above specimens was only twopence or threepence per 
ounce, the paregoric twopence or twopence halfpenny, and the tincture of 
rhubarb twopence per ounce in one case, and fourpence in the others. 
Knowing but little of such matters, I would simply draw the attention of 
chemists and druggists to this point; manifestly, however, great inconsis¬ 
tency exists. 
In conclusion, I would remark, that the results of the examination of these 
tinctures must not be taken as indicating the gen'eral practice of the trade 
concerning the manufacture and sale of such preparations. Pharmacies could 
be mentioned in which only spirit of the officinal strength and quality is used, 
and where fairly remunerative prices for articles of best quality are readily 
obtained. It would be equally unfair, however, to name the vendors of good, 
as of bad articles, mere accident bringing their wares under my notice. 
Doubtless the honest or fortunate are not more honest or fortunate, nor the 
dishonest or unfortunate, more dishonest or unfortunate, than hundreds of 
their brethren whose preparations do not chance to come under the scrutiny 
of the analyst. 
17, Bloomshury Square, London. 
OK THE CALAMINE OE PIIAKMACY. 
BY MR. E. H. DAVIS. 
The subject I have undertaken to investigate for this Conference is the 
qualit}^ of calamine as now supplied by the ordinary class of dispensing che¬ 
mists in the kingdom. 
Previous examinations have shown that formerly an article so called was 
almost invariably composed of sulphate of baryta, with small quantities of 
carbonate of lime and oxide of iron. 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
Oxide of Zinc . 
73-64 
67-64 
56-25 
17-29 
13-15 
Heroxide of Iron. 
5-89 
3-65 
6-43 
•51 
•57 
2-31 
1-35 
2-00 
•90 
Oxide of Copper . 
trace 
•54 
trace 
Carbonate of Lime . 
6-30 
10-61 
10-79 
3-46 
8-34 
4-92 
4-74 
3-17 
1-97 
Carbonate of Magnesia 
•83 
trace 
trace 
trace 
trace 
trace 
trace 
trace 
trace 
Hulpliate of Baryta. 
75-56 
73-19 
80-03 
88-69 
92-99 
91-GG 
Silica, etc. 
7-05 
14-95 
23-33 
Water .. 
1-44 
2-61 
•98 
1-80 
1-75 
1-28 
•92 
•88 
'1 i 
Loss . 
6-85 
2-22 
1-38 
3-00 
5-46 
4-30 
•96 
1-70 
Total. 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
•100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
