658 
NOTES ON PRESCEIBING. 
No. 2. Oxide of copper.zz 17'48 
Soda.=z 7-17 
Sulphuric acid.— 26'42 
Water.— 3985 
Earthy peroxide of iron.zz: 9 08 
100-00 
This was labelled “ Superior Mixture for Wheat.” It had a tarry flavour, 
probably from the admixture of a little spirit of tar. The colour was a reddish- 
brown. It was evidently a mixture of about part sulphate of copper, one 
part of Glauber’s salts, and coloured with probably a little bole or Venetian red. 
No. 3. Oxide of copper.— 19'70 
Oxide of iron.zz 7*98 
Sulphuric acid.zz 28-54 
Water.zz 36-08 
Eartliy colouring matter.zz 7-70 
100-00 
This was labelled “ Extra strono prepared Vitriol,” specially recommended-as 
superior to all others. It had a reddish colour, and was coarsely powdered. 
No. 4. Oxide of copper.zz 24-01 
Soda.zz 4-93 
Sulphuric acid.zz 30-16 
Water.iz: 40 90 
100-00 
This was labelled “ Powdered Vitriol; no charge for powdering,” was a 
clean, nice-looking, light-blue powder. It consisted of three-fourths sulphate of 
copper, and one-fourth Glauber’s salts. 
These are only a few of the articles that have come under the writer’s notice, 
all more or less of which were either very inferior, or else decidedly adulterated. 
Perhaps at a future opportunity a few more results may be noticed, if only 
for the purpose of calling attention to the necessity of having uniform quality 
and commercial value. 
NOTES ON PRESCRIBING. 
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Gentlemen,—In addition to the admirable notes on this subject given by 
Mr. Hanbury, and corroborated by others of our members, I beg to add a 
few from my own experience. I first advert to the difficulty often found in 
deciphering what the prescriber really means. When I was an assistant in 
town some years ago a prescription was brought to be dispensed, but the es¬ 
tablishment, consisting of five, could not make it out to their satisfaction. I 
was deputed to wait upon the doctor for an explanation; for some reason he 
did not deign that, but thrust the prescription into the fire and wrote 
another ; the inference being that he could not read his own writing ! I 
have, since I have been in business, had prescriptions that have not only 
puzzled myself, but all the medical profession in the town. Is not that 
abominable, to say the least of it.P Again, it sometimes happens that the 
doctor orders a 'particular—private preparation,—and therefore it is im- 
