AmAp°rif;iP9Marm'}       Elementary  Dispensing  Practice.  173 
doses  ot  powdered  opium  from,  a  wide-mouth  stock-bottle  thinking 
no  evil."  In  speaking  of  mixing  powders  he  says  that  "powders 
dispensed  on  the  usual  small  scale  are  better  mixed  with  a  paper  or 
palette  knife  on  paper  and  sifted,  than  by  titration  in  a  mortar." 
"In  compound  powders  ingredients  ordered  in  smallest  quantities 
should  be  added  first  and  larger  quantities  last." 
Under  pill  excipients  Mr.  Ince  gives  the  formula  for  a  number  of 
mixtures  that  may  prove  useful,  and  are  at  least  interesting. 
"  Hydrated  glycerin  :  Glycerin,  4  ;  distilled  water,  1 ;  mix.  Glu- 
cose excipient:  Glucose,  12;  glycerin,  4;  distilled  water,  1;  mix. 
Honey  excipient :  Clarified  honey,  2  ;  distilled  water,  1  ;  mix.  Proc- 
tor's paste:  Glycerin,  9  c.c;  powdered  tragacanth,  3  grammes; 
distilled  water,  4  c.c;  mix.  Triturate  the  tragacanth  with  the  gly- 
cerin and  then  add  the  water." 
Among  other  excipients  he  recommends  the  use  of  manna  as 
having  many  special  applications.  Among  absorbents  he  recom- 
mends powdered  licorice,  precipitated  calcium  phosphate  and  cal- 
cined magnesia. 
Mr.  Ince  lays  much  stress  on  the  desirability  of  incorporating 
every  potent  remedy  that  is  capable  of  solution  in  that  state  so  as 
to  be  absolutely  sure  of  the  particles  being  thoroughly  subdivided. 
In  speaking  of  ointments  he  says :  "  It  is  indispensable  that  the 
active  ingredients  be  reduced  to  a  perfectly  miscible  condition,  and 
wherever  possible  added  in  solution. 
"All  crystalline  bodies  incorporated  into  an  ointment  need  the 
utmost  care  in  dispensing  ;  they  should  be  reduced  to  an  impalpable 
powder,  dissolved  when  possible,  but  always  rendered  absolutely 
smooth." 
In  making  ointments  by  fusion  it  is  necessary  to  know  the  rela- 
tive melting  points  of  the  bases  and  to  regulate  and  adjust  the  order 
of  melting  so  that  the  substance  requiring  the  highest  degree  of 
heat  is  melted  first,  the  remaining  bases  being  added  in  the  sequence 
suggested  by  their  melting  points,  so  that  the  necessary  heat  may 
be  gradually  reduced  and  in  this  way  avoid  burning  or  scorching 
the  most  delicate  ingredients. 
Under  "  Quisquilliae  "  that  might  have  quite  properly  been  called 
"  that  which  is  valuable,"  Mr.  Ince  has  arranged  a  number  of  inter- 
esting suggestions,  from  which  we  have  taken  the  following  : 
"A  mortar  should  not  be  used  to  dissolve  a  readily  soluble  salt  or 
substance. 
