EDITORIAL. 
187 
that,  when  pmified  white  sugar  only  is  used  to  make  syrup,  the  plant,  when 
placed  in  it,  does  not  produce  vinegar  so  speedily ;  the  length  of  time 
required  for  the  changes  varying  from  four  to  six  months.  Dr.  Balfour 
thinks  this  may  possibly  be  owing  to  the  presence  of  some  ingredient  in  the 
raw  sugar  and  treacle,  which  may  tend  to  promote  the  production  of  vinegar. 
— Annals  of  Pharmacy  and  Practical  Chemistry. 
QiMtorial  department. 
Sale  of  Poisons  by  Druggists,  Apothecaries  and  others  in  the 
United  States. — The  Committee  to  whom  the  above  subject  was  referred  at 
the  late  Pharmaceutical  Convention  are  desirous  of  getting  all  informa- 
tion on  the  subject  they  can  obtain,  and  will  feel  under  obligations  for  con- 
tributions to  that  end  from  Apothecaries,  etc.,  residing  anywhere  within  the 
United  Slates.  The  special  facts  wanted  are,  1st,  whether  any  State  or 
municipal  law  exists  regulating  the  sale  of  poisons;  2d,  if  so.  how  it  works; 
3d,  if  not,  does  any  voluntary  conservative  action  have  place  among  drug- 
gists and  apothecaries,  and  if  so,  how  far;  4th,  to  what  extent  do  grocers 
and  general  shop-keepers  retail  arsenic  and  other  poisons  used  for  destroying 
animal  life.  Any  such  communications  may  be  addressed  to  11  VV.  Procter,  Jr., 
Philadelphia,"  Chairman  of  that  Committee,  or  to  Messrs.  Dr.  Philbrick, 
of  Boston,  Alexander  Duval,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  or  G.  D.  Coggeshall,  of  New 
York,  and  its  other  members. 
Drug  Inspectorships  and  the  New  Administration. — Rotation  in  Of- 
fice has  become  one  of  the  most  prominent  features  of  our  National 
Government  in  its  progress  from  Administration  to  Administration,  and  this 
too  often  without  much  regard  to  the  public  interests.  Changes  in  many  of 
ihe  prominent  and  most  lucrative  officerships  are  frequently  atleuded  with 
small  inconvenience,  but  it  often  has  happened  that  the  displacement  of  a 
clerk  or  inspector  has  thrown  important  duties  into  confusion.  The  effects 
of  this  policy  have  already  been  exhibited  in  the  annals  of  the  present  go- 
vernment as  regards  the  Inspectorship  of  Drugs.  From  the  nature  of  the 
services  required  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  select  well  qualified  persons.  The 
association  of  the  Chemical,  Pharmaceutical,  and  Medical  knowledge  abso- 
lutely requisite  to  carry  out  the  objects  of  the  law,  with  the  business  qualifica- 
tions proper  to  protect  the  pecuniary  interest  of  the  Government,  when 
found  in  any  Inspector  of  Drugs,  especially  when  these  are  backed  by  ex- 
perience- in  office,  should  prevent  him  from  being  displaced  on  party  grounds  . 
We  hope  the  new  Administration,  if  they  determine  to  make  any  change, 
will  at  least  consult  the  Colleges  of  Pharmacy  of  the  several  cities,  in  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  new  officers. 
Lectures  before  the  Massachusetts  College  of  Pharmacy. — We  learn 
through  the  Boston  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,  that  Dr.  Charles  T.Jack- 
son has  commenced  acourse  of  twelve  lectures  before  that  Institution.  This 
