190 
EDITORIAL. 
death  of  the  child  for  whom  the  mixture  was  prescribed,  the  bottle  was 
taken  to  the  apothecary  with  the  information,  when  he  immediately  swal- 
lowed some  of  it,  to  show  his  confidence  in  its  correctness,  from  which  dose 
death  ensued.  The  deceased  appears  to  have  been  but  little  known  and 
not  long  in  possession  of  the  store  in  which  the  mistake  was  made.  What 
his  claims  really  were  to  pharmaceutical  education  are  not  known  ;  but 
from  the  books  found  in  his  possession  it  might  be  inferred  that  he  was  not 
uneducated. 
It  is  highly  probable  that  he  found  the  bottle  mislabelled  when  he 
came  into  possession  of  the  store,  and  as  Chlorate  of  Potassa  or  Chloride 
of  Potassium  are  neither  of  them  much  called  for,  he  may  never  before 
have  had  occasion  to  use  the  fatal  bottle.  Chloride  of  Potassium  is  fre- 
quently seen  in  a  form  closely  resembling  granulated  Cyanide  of  Potassium, 
but  Chlorate  of  Potassa  is  always  in  crystals,  and  as  that  was  most  probably 
the  salt  intended,  it  shows  the  importance  of  physicians  being  more  explicit 
in  prescription  writing.  It  is  possible  that  in  this  instance  that  the  result 
might  have  been  different  had  the  name  been  written  "  R  Potasses  Chlora- 
tis  but  be  that  as  it  may,  the  occurrence  points  to  the  danger  of 
trusting  to  mere  labels,  without  a  corresponding  knowledge  of  the  sub- 
stance labelled,  and  especially  to  the  necessity  of  great  caution  regarding 
the  contents  of  bottles  in  purchasing  second  hand  stores. 
Iodine  water. — The  propietors  of  a  preparation  with  this  name  have  sent 
us  a  bottle.  They  claim  it  to  be  a  solution  of  pure  iodine  in  water  without 
any  solvent  (/)  to  the  extent  of  from  one-half  to  three-quarters  of  a  grain 
per  fluid  ounce.  Dr.  Chilton  certifies  to  the  solution  containing  about  half 
a  grain  to  the  fluid  ounce.  A  fluid  ounce  of  the  specimen  sent  to  us,  how- 
ever, when  treated  with  pure  liquor  potassae,  diluted  to  hundredths,  was 
found  to  be  decolorized  and  rendered  insensible  to  starch  paper  by  .06 
grain  of  potassa,  which  is  equivalent  to  less  than  one-sixth  of  a  grain  of 
iodine  ;  but  as  the  specimen  tried  had  been  kept  some  time  in  a  warm  room 
it  may  have  lost  strength.  Admitting  the  presence  of  the  amount  of  iodine 
averred,  it  is  most  probably  held  in  solution  by  traces  of  hydriodic  acid,  and 
not  by  pure  water.  It  is  not,  however,  with  the  strength  of  the  solution 
we  have  to  do,  so  much  as  with  the  presumption  and  effrontery  which  in 
view  of  its  actual  composition  could  induce  the  proprietors  to  assert  that 
"  Anda's  Liquid  Iodine  has  demonstrated  itself  to  be  a  complete  and  certain 
cure  for  consumption,  palsy,  rheumatism,  scrofula,  liver  complaints,  heart 
diseases,  and  disorders  arising  from  impurities  of  the  blood.  It  always  ef- 
fects a  cure,"  &o.,  (Druggists'  Circular,  page  16).  The  absurdity  of  sup- 
posing  that  this  solution  has  more  merit  than  LugoPs  solution,  equally 
diluted,  is  too  marked  to  deceive  any  but  the  unprofessional,  at  the  same 
time  there  may  be  a  decided  advantage  in  administering  iodine  in  this  very 
dilute  form,  patients  often  being  very  careless  in  the  preparation  of  the 
ordinary  tinctures  or  solutions  preparatory  to  swallowing  them,  as  regards 
proper  dilution. 
