editorial Department. 
Errata. — By an accidental omission in copying, overlooked in read- 
ing the proof, the sense of the third paragraph from the bottom at page 120, 
in the number for April, in the Essay on Fluid Extract of Serpentaria, 
was entirely changed. It should read thus : — " By the exercise of a reasonable 
amount of care in evaporating, the dissipation of the volatile principle can in 
great measure be avoided ; for a specimen of the extract prepared as above 
■was found to possess not only the bitterness and acridity of the root itself, but 
also to a very considerable extent its peculiar aroma. The residue left in the 
displacement apparatus was found to possess little or no power of imparting," 
&c. &c. The words in italics were omitted. At page 119 the author's 
name should read "John C. Savery/' instead of "John B. Savery," as 
printed. Subscribers will please to make these corrections. 
Fatal Result of Carelessness. — Again it has become our duty, how- 
ever disagreeable, to notice the fatal consequences of a disregard of those 
nice rules of practice which should govern the physician in prescribing, and 
the apothecary in fulfilling his written requests. From the Public Ledger 
of June 2d, we learn that Dr. B. McNeaf prescribed a mixture of six drachms 
of castor oil and two drachms of oil wormseed, for a child between four and 
five years old, to be given in tea-spoonful doses. The prescription was 
taken to the apothecary store of Mr. Robert Shoemaker, and given in hand 
to his asistant, David A. Shultz, who, owing to the imperfect manner in which 
the prescription was written, read it oil of rosemary and oil of wormseed, 
and so dispensed it. The mixture was given at repeated doses from Wed- 
nesday to Friday, at which time, the increased indisposition of the child 
induced the parents to send for the physician, who, perceiving that some- 
thing was wrong, on enquiry of the apothecary, learned that his pre- 
scription had been misinterpreted. The child died on the ensuing morning 
from the effects, directly and indirectly, of the stimulating mixture. The 
following is the verdict of the Coroner's Jury summoned for the oc- 
casion : 
" That the said Henry J. Rowland came to his death by a seated disease of con- 
gestion of the brain, which disease was matured from the disorganization of the 
stomach, produced by over-doses of wormseed oil, as prescribed by the family 
physician. The Jury deem it but justice to state, that no blame should be at- 
tached to David A. Shultz, in the employment of Robert Shoemaker, Druggist, in 
causing the death of said child." 
