108   PHARMACEUTICAL  DEPARTMENT  OP  A  U.  S.  A.  HOSPITAL. 
four  quart  "tinctures,"  for  the  various  Ethers,  Syrups,  Fluid 
Extracts,  Tinctures,  and  Waters,  in  most  common  use  ;  twelve 
six-ounce  covered  jars,  for  Pills,  Ointments,  and  Solid  Extracts ; 
thirty-four  ounce  salt-mouth  bottles,  for  Quinine,  Morphia,  Salts 
of  Mercury,  Powdered  Rhubarb,  etc.  The  lower  shelf,  wider 
than  those  above,  surmounts  three  rows  of  drawers,  which,  how- 
ever, have  proved  of  but  little  use,  all  the  drugs  being  kept  in 
glass-stoppered  bottles.  On  this  shelf  is  kept  a  pair  of  small 
scales  and  weights,  and  sufficient  room  is  afforded  for  the  use  of 
the  utensils  required  in  compounding  prescriptions. 
In  one  end  of  this  apartment  is  a  capacious  sink,  furnished 
with  hot  and  cold  water,  over  which  are  to  be  found  Glass  Fun- 
nels, Mortars,  Graduates,  and  a  large  number  of  empty  vials, 
from  half  to  eight  ounce,  cleaned  and  ready  for  use.  In  another 
end  of  the  room  is  a  small  closet  in  which  are  kept  the  mineral 
acids,  Atropia,  Strychnia,  Bromine,  etc. 
When  the  hospital  is  full,  its  capacity  is  3600  ;  the  force  em- 
ployed in  the  "Dispensary"  is  twelve.  They  are  intelligent  phar- 
maceutists, and  are  employed  by  contract.  To  each  one  is  appor- 
tioned four  wards.  He  fills  the  orders  from  these  wards,  and  is 
required  to  have  his  division  cleaned  and  put  in  working  order 
twice  daily.  He  keeps  a  note  of  the  bottles  that  need  replenish- 
ing, and  at  an  appointed  time  fills  them  from  the  supplies  on 
hand  in  the  "  Store-room."  An  accurate  account  of  articles  thus 
furnished  is  kept,  so  as  to  make  the  amounts  on  hand  tally  with 
those  furnished.    Night  calls  are  answered  by  the  Steward. 
From  500  to  800  new  prescriptions  are  put  up  here  monthly, 
and  during  the  year  that  I  have  been  on  duty  here,  no  serious 
mistake  has  occurred ;  on  the  contrary,  not  a  few  errors  in  pres- 
criptions are  detected  and  returned  for  correction.  The  com- 
pounding is  accurate  and  neat,  and  reflects  considerable  credit  on 
those  engaged  in  this  responsible  business. 
Prescriptions  are  written  by  the  Physicians  on  printed  blanks, 
on  which,  in  four  places,  around  the  margin,  in  large  type,  is 
printed  the  number  of  the  ward ;  this,  together  with  the  fact  that 
the  name,  and  bed-number  of  the  patient  prescribed  for,  is  written 
in  an  apportioned  place,  renders  it  scarcely  possible  for  a  pres- 
cription to  get  to  any  but  the  proper  person.    Empty  bottles, 
