94 
EDITORIAL. 
a  drop  of  some  pharmaceutical  liquid — each  column  consisted  of  different 
specimens  of  the  same  preparation,  and  exhibits  at  a  glance  the  variation 
of  composition  by  the  difference  in  the  stains.  lie  considers  this  a  good 
way  to  test  for  many  of  those  preparations  that  have  an  ingredient  that  is 
liable  to  vary  from  its  high  price — as,  for  instance,  saffron — in  Vinum  Opii 
Orocatum,  Elixir  Proprietatis,  and  Tinctura  Cinchonae  Compositae.  The 
■writer  then  remarks — 
We  apothecaries  are  often  annoyed  for  our  charges,  there  being  no 
regulations  in  regard  to  prescriptions  or  prices.  Ii  occurred  to  me  the 
other  day  that  a  patient  asked  for  Vinum  Opii  Crocatum,  commonly  called 
Sydenham's  Laudanum,  a  remedy  very  popular  amongst  the  French. 
Italian  and  Spanish  people,  and  which  is  made,  according  to  every  Euro- 
pean Pharmacopoeia,  of 
Malaga  Wine,   .  .  .  .a  pound, 
Povrdered  opium,    .  .  .  two  ounces. 
Saffron,  .  .  .  .an  ounce. 
Cinnamon  and  cloves,  of  each  ,  one  drachm. 
With  genuine  Spanish  saffron  at  ^20  per  pound,  and  opium  at  present 
prices,  the  cost  of  this  wine  is  not  less  than  ^3.50  to  $i  per  pound,  and 
for  retailing  we  charge  fifty  cents  per  ounce,  with  vial.  The  patient  ex- 
claimed at  the  '  exhorbitance  of  the  price,'  and  said  that  he  had  paid 
but  twenty-five  cents  for  the  same  at  another  store." 
There  is  much  truth  in  what  our  correspondent  says  in  regard  to  certain 
preparations.  It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  the  U.  S.  Pharma- 
copoeia omits  the  saffron  from  the  Vinum  Opii,  and  unless  the  prescription 
specially  called  for  V.  Opii  Crocatum,  there  was  no  impropriety  in  vending 
the  other.  The  difficulty  of  applying  an  extemporaneous  test  to  laudanum 
and  other  Galenical  preparations,  offers  so  great  an  impediment  to  judging 
of  them  without  analysis,  that  Mr.  Leroy's  idea  of  studying  the  subject 
from  this  new  point  of  view  seems  to  offer  at  least  encouragement  to  try 
its  availability.  Mere  color  will  not  do  for  the  decision  in  all  cases,  as  age 
and  light  often  alter  the  tint  of  genuine  tinctures  :  but-  the  application  of 
re-agents  to  the  stains  produced  by  normal  preparations  may  he  productive, 
in  some  cases,  of  a  valuable  and  easy  method  of  recognition.  For  instance, 
ihe  persalts  of  iron  produce,  with  the  meconic  acid  in  opium,  a  deep  red  colo- 
ration. When  a  drop  of  laudanum  dried  on  blotting  paper  is  touched  with 
a  solution  of  sesquichloride  of  iron,  a  dark  stain  is  produced  ;  if  now  the 
game  laudanum,  previously  diluted  with  an  equal  bulk  of  water,  be  tried, 
the  stain  caused  by  the  iron  salt  has  much  less  depth  of  color.  How  much 
reliance  could  be  placed  on  this  method  in  other  cases  it  is  not  easy 
to  say,  yet  it  is  worthy  of  trial  by  some  pharmaceutist  who  has  the  time 
and  inclination.  Until,  however,  we  have  one  generally  recognized  Phar- 
macopoeia, it  cannot  be  expected  that  uniformity  in  these  preparations  will 
occur,  even  among  the  reputable  members  of  our  profession. 
