Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Feb.,  1887. 
Pharmacy  in  India. 
103 
nerves.  By  reason  of  this  action  solanine  is  to  be  classed  among  the  best  of 
the  analgelsics.  (2)  The  drug  may  be  prescribed  in  large  doses  without  dan- 
ger, and  presents  none  of  the  inconveniences  of  morphine  or  atropine.  There  is 
no  danger  of  a  cumulative  action.  (3)  Solanine  does  not  cause  congestion  of 
the  brain,  even  in  the  aged,  and,  probably,  a  like  freedom  from  this  danger 
exists  in  the  case  of  children.  (4)  In  all  cases  where  it  is  necessary  to  calm 
excitement,  relieve  pain,  or  overcome  spasm,  solanine  promises  excellent  re- 
sults. It  may  be  given  with  advantage  in  the  place  of  morphine  for  the  relief 
of  any  of  these  conditions. — Med.  Record. 
PHARMACY  IN  INDIA. 
Read  before  the  Alumni  Association  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  January  18st. 
Lahoee,  India,  November  27, 1886. 
The  subject  "  Pharmacy  in  India "  is  probably  one  which  has  not  been 
brought  before  you,  and  for  this  reason  I  am  induced  to  address  you,  trusting 
the  characteristics  of  Indian  pharmacy  will  make  up  any  lack  of  composition 
by  the  writer.  In  the  first  place  there  is  no  pharmacy  law  in  the  country, 
and  any  one  can  engage  in  the  drug  business  regardless  of  his  knowledge  of 
chemistry.  Hence,  there  are  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  chemist  shops  from 
the  strictly  legitimate  shops  of  Calcutta  and  Bombay  to  the  native  medical 
halls  in  the  bazaars,  where  poisons  of  all  sorts  are  as  freely  sold  as  Epsom 
salts.  In  Calcutta  and  Bombay  the  drug  stores  are  on  a  line  with  the  pave- 
ment as  at  home,  but  in  other  cities  and  stations  of  India  they,  as  well  as  all 
stores,  are  built  in  the  centre  of  yards,  or,  as  called  here,  compounds  to  which 
there  is  an  entrance  and  exit  gate.  The  buildings  are  all  one  story  with  very 
high  ceilings,  large  airy  rooms,  the  store  portion  to  the  front  and  residence 
part  in  the  rear.  Over  the  entrance  to  the  store  a  portico  is  built  on  account  of 
the  great  heat  of  the  sun,-  which  would  be  felt  severely  by  some  persons  even 
in  the  short  space  of  time  occupied  by  leaving  the  carriage  and  entering  the 
store.  Around  the  portico  are  potted  plants,  rose  bushes,  etc.,  and  the  en- 
trance is,  as  a  rule,  bordered  with  potted  plants.  Hence,  we  have  no  window 
display,  and  the  part  of  an  apprentice's  life,  the  flies  in  the  window,  is  un- 
known here.  Outside  of  Calcutta  and  Bombay,  there  are  no  strictly  chemist 
businesses ;  but  this  is  an  adjunct  to  a  general  store,  and  as  a  rule  is  the  best 
paying  branch  of  the  business.  The  chemistry  part  of  the  business  takes  the 
lead  in  the  firm's  advertisements,  as  Root  &  Co.,  chemists  and  general  mer- 
chants, and  this  is  carried  out  by  merchants  whose  stock  in  trade  consists 
of  a  few  auction  patent  medicines. 
The  British  Pharmacopoeia  is  the  standard,  but  many  Indian  medicines  are 
prescribed,  and  there  is  an  Indian  Pharmacopoeia  which  is  unofficial.  Many 
American  preparations  are  used  and  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia  is  to  be 
found  in  every  drug  store.  American  patent  medicines  have  a  very  large 
sale,  and  among  the  non-secret  preparations  Parke,  Davis  &  Co.'s  Fluid  Ex- 
tracts and  McKesson  &  Bobbins'  Capsuled  Pills  have  become  best  known. 
The  quantity  of  McKesson  &  Bobbins'  Quinine  Capsules  that  are  sold  is  mar- 
vellous.  Of  course  this  is  a  county  of  fevers  and  malaria,  and  the  perfection 
