394        Odd  Directions  for  Compounding  Prescriptions.  { ^^fig^^iST'^"* 
ODD  DIRECTIONS  for  COMPOUNDING  PRESCRIPTIONS. 
Editor  of  the  American  Journed  of  Phcirmeiey  : 
By  reference  to  almost  any  of  the  daily  papers,  advertisements  like 
the  following  may  be  met  with  :  "  Prescription  free.  For  the  speedy 
cnre  of  nervons  weakness,  lost  vitality,  premature  debility,  etc.,  brought 
on  bv  indiscretion  and  excesses.  Anv  druo^onist  has  the  ino-redients 
etc.  Or :  A  philanthropist,  sympathizer  with  suffering  hnman- 
ity,  during  his  ten  years'  residence  in  the  South  Sea  Islands,  discovered 
a  potent  remedy  for  the  cure  of  nervons  exhaustion  caused  by  indis- 
cretion, etc.  Prescription  sent  free  on  application  to,"  etc.  These 
prescriptions  most  always  either  call  for  drugs  which  do  not 
exist,  or  tliey  are  accompanied  with  absurd  directions  for  compound- 
ing, or  with  reflections  on  the  apothecary,  which  let  him — whose  main 
calling  is  the  compounding  of  prescriptions — appear  as  ignorant  and 
incompetent  and  in  general  not  qualified  to  put  up  these  precious 
mixtures ;  or,  in  such  cases  where  qualification  is  conceded,  his  cupid- 
ity in  the  matter  of  clmrging  is  adverted  to. 
Some  little  time  ago  I  had  occasion  to  prepare  three  prescriptions 
of  this  class  for  a  customer.  The  funny  directions,  mainly,  induced 
me  to  copy  them.  Without  further  comment,  they  will  doubtless 
aflbrd  much  amusement  to  the  readers  of  the  Journal.  Here  they 
are,  verbatim  : 
Pariera  brava,  .  .  .  .     \  ounce 
Hydrastis,  .  .  .  .         1  " 
Peruvian  barl^  calisaya,  .  .  .    1  " 
Carbonate  lytliia,  .  .  .      .  2  drachms 
Mode  of  Preparing . — Put  one  quarter  ounce  pariera  brava  to  one  ounce- 
of  boiling  water ;  let  it  stand  for  two  hours ;  then  add  of  finely  powdered 
hydrastis  one  ounce;  mix  well  and  reduce  to  the  consistency  of  syrup  by 
evaporation.  Put  one  ounce  Peruvian  bark  calisaya  to  two  ounces  of  boil- 
ing w^ater ;  let  it  boil  five  minutes,  and  filter  by  the  usual  process.  Then 
wash  two  drachms  carbonate  of  lythia  in  proper  vessels,  and  add  all  the 
ingredients  together,  and  heat  on  a  slow  fire,  in  a  close  covered  vessel,  to 
100  degrees  specific  gravity  ;  remove  it  to  a  mortar,  pulverize  well  and  tri- 
turate ;  to  be  divided  into  180  powders. 
Pill  No.  1. 
Concentrated  extract  of  coca,  .  .    10  grains 
Phosphorus,        .  .  .  .  2  " 
Syrup  iodide  iron,    .  .  .  .40  drops 
Pepsin,  .  .  .  .  .  2  drachms 
