PHARMACY  IN  GERMANY  AND  PRUSSIA. 
437 
"  The  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  had  a  density  of  only  1-832  ; 
the  extract  of  belladonna  was  not  entirely  soluble  in  water ;  the 
hydrated  peroxide  of  iron  contained  a  small  quantity  of  chlorine  ; 
the  iodide  of  potassium  contained  a  trace  of  iodate ;  the  loft 
appropriated  to  the  drying  of  plants  is  not  sufficiently  ventilated, 
it  requires  an  additional  window ;  the  herbarium  is  not  kept  and 
arranged  in  a  proper  manner ;  the  inspectors  have  not  found  the 
Military  Pharmacopoeia  in  your  shop ;  your  apprentice  does  not 
possess  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  Latin  language — you  should 
pay  attention  to  his  improvement  in  this  respect,"  &c. 
These  passages  will  be  sufficient  to  give  an  idea  of  the  atten- 
tion which  is  directed  by  the  inspectors,  not  only  to  the  nature 
of  the  medicines  themselves,  but  also  to  everything  relating  to 
the  good  management  of  the  business. 
The  regulations  laid  down  by  the  Prussian  laws  for  the  in- 
spection of  pharmacies,  are,  upon  the  whole,  analogous  to  those 
observed  in  France,  but  there  are  some  peculiarities  in  the  prac- 
tical details  which  are  deserving  of  notice. 
The  French  law  makes  no  mention  of  anything  besides  the 
examination  of  medicines,  omitting  altogether  the  pupils,  the 
general  state  and  management  of  the  shop  and  laboratory. 
The  establishment  of  an  herbarium  in  each  pharmacy  would 
be  very  desirable  in  France,  inasmuch  as  it  would  encourage  the 
study  of  botany  by  the  pupils,  a  subject  which  is  now  too  much 
neglected.  It  would,  moreover,  be  of  practical  utility.  A  well 
arranged  herbarium  of  officinal  plants  would  very  frequently  be 
of  service  to  the  pharmaceutist  in  ascertaining,  by  comparison, 
whether  the  drugs  obtained  in  commerce  are  really  the  true 
species. 
The  most  important  of  all  the  provisions  of  the  Prussian  law 
relating  to  the  inspection  of  pharmacies,  is,  without  doubt,  that 
which  empowers  the  medical  legislative  authorities  to  address  to 
the  pharmaceutists  such  observations  as  they  may  deem  neces- 
sary from  the  result  of  the  inspection.  Commendation  or  cen- 
sure thus  officially  expressed  by  a  superior  and  competent  autho- 
rity, perfectly  well  informed  as  to  the  particulars  of  the  case, 
are  far  more  effectual  means  of  keeping  the  pharmaceutists  in 
the  faithful  exercise  of  their  duties,  than  an  inflexible  law  which 
would  leave  to  the  inspectors  only  the  choice  of  one  or  other 
