382 
Pharmaceutical  A ssociation. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1897. 
Another  reason  which  he  advanced  for  druggists  studying  medicine,  even 
though  they  did  not  intend  to  practice  it,  was  that  a  medical  training  would  be 
of  inestimable  value  to  them  in  the  practice  of  general  pharmacy. 
Under  the  head  of  "  Rocks  and  Shoals  of  Pharmacy,"  Prof.  C.  B.  Lowe  pre- 
sented some  common-sense  doctrine,  which  was  particularly  intended  for 
young  men  beginning  the  drug  business.  Of  the  hindrances  to  success  in  this 
business,  he  considered  the  following  :  Immorality,  insufficient  capital,  extrava- 
gance in  fitting  up  the  store,  purchase  of  large  quantities  of  stock  ahead  of  the 
demand,  or  purchase  of  stock  on  account  of  its  cheapness,  too  early  marriage, 
insufficient  education,  lack  of  business  methods  with  regard  to  the  workings  of 
the  store,  carelessness  in  financial  details,  want  of  politeness,  neglect  of  health, 
neglect  of  certain  kinds  of  advertising,  and  finally,  lack  of  pharmaceutical 
literature. 
"  Cold  Cream  "  was  the  subject  of  a  paper  by  F.  W.  E.  Stedem. 
It  was  as  follows  :  "Since  the  last  revision  of  the  United  States  Pharma- 
copoeia, many  complaints  have  been  made  by  physicians  as  to  the  deterioration 
of  ointments  of  metallic  oxides  and  other  medicinal  substances,  when  made 
with  unguentum  aquae  rosae  as  the  unction  vehicle.  The  cause  of  these  rapid 
changes  is  due  to  admixture  of  a  small  per  cent,  of  borax,  which  has  been 
added  because  of  its  saponifying  the  oil  of  almond  partially,  and  thereby  hold- 
ing the  rose  water  in  suspension  all  the  more  readily.  My  experience  with  both 
formulas  has  led  me  to  the  firm  conviction  that  the  change  to  the  use  of  borax 
was  a  very  unwise  one,  for  many  reasons.  The  first  objection  is  illustrated  in  a 
series  of  ointments  of  various  mercurials  in  daily  use,  and  the  results  are,  on 
inspection,  obvious.  These  preparations  were  made  on  May  10,  1897,  a  little 
over  a  month  ago,  and  in  all  cases  one  would  be  unable  to  recognize  the  mix- 
tures. The  preparation  of  ointment  of  yellow  oxide  of  mercury  is  particularly 
objectionable,  and  its  unsightliness  is  not  the  least  of  its  failings.  This  oint" 
ment  is  frequently  ordered  by  physicians  for  use  on  the  eye,  and  when  made 
with  official  cold  cream,  is  totally  unfit  for  use,  because  of  the  terribly  irritat- 
ing properties  of  the  reduction  product.  It  is  not  the  desire  of  the  writer  to 
prolong  the  line  because  of  its  length,  beyond  submitting  these  specimens, 
including  an  ointment  of  yellow  oxide  of  mercury,  a  dilution  of  ointment  of 
nitrate  of  mercury,  and  an  ointment  of  red  oxide  of  mercury.  It  is  a  question 
as  to  whether  the  change  from  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  1880  was  not  made  in 
deference  to  a  demand  from  those  who  are  simply  unwilling  to  work  hard  in 
an  effort  to  get  a  good  or  fit  preparation.  There  is  no  difficulty  in  making  a 
good  and  sightly  mixture  by  the  old  process  when  worked  right  and  long 
enough.  It  would  be  much  better  to  drop  the  preparation  entirely  from  the 
Pharmacopoeia  than  to  continue  it  and  make  it  necessary  for  us  to  keep  both 
preparations  in  stock,  for  the  reasons  given  before." 
This  paper  was  commented  on  at  length  ;  other  members  reported  trouble 
from  the  same  source,  and  also  dissatisfaction  with  the  changes  which  had  been 
made  in  some  other  official  preparations.  Prof.  Moerk  mentioned  the  discolor- 
ation which  happens  when  resorcin  or  hydroqinone  is  mixed  with  official  cold 
cream  or  other  substances  which  contain  alkaline  bodies.  The  paper  was 
referred  to  the  Association's  committee  on  the  revision  of  the  United  States 
Pharmacopoeia. 
