476 
Editorial. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
1     Oct.  I,  1872. 
without  previous  unnecessary  preparation,  at  once  demonstrate  their  existence 
oy  a  white  heavy  precipitate,  which  is  sulphate  of  barytes  or  heavy  spar  ;  while 
pure  vinegar  will  not  show  this  precipitate,  simply  because  acetate  of  baryta  is 
soluble  in  water,  and  not  insoluble,  as  the  sulphate.  The  advice  of  preparatory 
treatment,  therefore,  with  alcohol,  heating,  etc.,  is  absolutely  unnecessary ,  and 
simply  a  specimen  of  as  gross  an  ignorance  as  is  the  attempt  at  explanation. 
u  The  sole  purpose  of  my  dilating  upon  this  matter  is  for  the  amount  of  chem- 
ical instruction  it  conveys. 
"  Now  the  simple  test  of  detecting  sulphuric  acid  in  vinegar  is  this  :  Make 
a  solution  of  chloride  of  barium,  pour  a  little  in  the  suspected  vinegar  ;  if  it  re- 
mains clear  there  is  no  adulteration  with  sulphuric  acid  ;  if  a  white  cloud  shows 
itself,  there  is  adulteration. 
"  Even  the  quantity  of  the  adulteration  may  be  determined  in  this  way  ;  when 
gradually  so  much  chloride  of  barium  has  been  added  to,  say,  one  pint  of  vine- 
gar till  no  more  precipitate  is  formed,  and  this  precipitate  is  then  collected  by 
filtration  and  dried,  every  three  parts  of  the  precipitate  will  indicate  very  nearly 
one  part  of  sulphuric  acid  adulteration." 
This  remarkable  criticism  has  received  due  attention  by  communications,  to 
the  same  paper,  of  September  14,  written  by  Messrs.  Charles  L.  R.  Sayre,  of 
Washington,  D.  C,  Francis  Schleicher,  of  Hoboken,  and  H.  M.  Wilder,  of 
Philadelphia.  These  gentlemen  reminded  Dr.  Yander  Weyde  that  vinegar  is 
apt  to  contain  sulphates,  for  the  removal  of  which  Mr.  King  proposes  alcohol, 
the  clear  filtrate  containing  the  sulphuric  acid. 
The  amount  of  acetic  ether  formed  by  the  process,  as  given  by  Mr.  King, 
can  only  be  minute,  since  a  gentle  heat  merely  is  directed  for  the  evaporation 
of  the  alcohol.  The  only  reaction  which  might  interfere  with  the  detection  of 
sulphuric  acid  by  the  process  given,  is  the  formation  of  sulphovinic  acid, 
which  cannot  be  recognized  by  chloride  of  barium  ;  but  since  at  ordinary 
temperature  this  acid  is  formed  very  slowly,  and  since  even  at  an  elevated 
temperature  and  with  an  excess  of  alcohol  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  com- 
bine all  the  sulphuric  acid  in  the  manner  indicated,  we  did  not  feel  justified 
in  making  any  comments  on  manipulations  which  have  been  so  correctly  de- 
scribed. Notwithstanding  the  rash  strictures  above  referred  to,  we  regard  Mr. 
King's  method  as  the  easiest  and  most  correct  process  yet  suggested  for  the 
purpose. 
Apothecaries'  Apprentices. — The  Medical  Press  and  Circular  relates  a 
judgment  wherein  it  was  ruled  that  an  apothecary  is  bound  to  provide  his  ap- 
prentices with  proper  opportunity  and  leisure  for  study,  books  wherewith  to 
learn  and  personal  instruction. 
The  Lecture  Season  has  approached,  and  from  the  information  received 
there  is  a  fair  prospect  of  larger  classes  than  heretofore  in  the  different  Colleges 
of  Pharmacy.  Pharmaceutical  education  has  made  rapid  progress  in  the 
United  States  of  late  years,  not  merely  by  the  establishment  of  new  Colleges 
in  the  larger  cities,  but  mainly  through  the  evident  aim  of  these  institutions  to 
furnish  young  pharmacists  with  ample  opportunities  of  acquiring  the  knowledge 
and  accomplishments  requisite  for  the  successful  pursuit  of  pharmacy.  In 
several  places  of  the  present  number  we  report  on  these  evidences  of  progress, 
which  is  the  more  gratifying  as  it  emanates  from  causes  inherent  to  the  natural 
