AMApH;  m**11" }  Disinfectants,  Antiseptics  and  Deodorizers.  177 
to  be  used  from  the  person  bringing  the  prescription,  without  at  the 
same  time  exciting  his  or  her  suspicions  on  the  subject,  or  else, 
pleading  necessary  delay,  we  have  to  consult  the  physician  himself. 
In  this  latter  case  how  often  are  we  treated  as  if  it  were  a  criminal 
act  to  be  careful  and  particular  in  dispensing  deadly  articles. 
Again,  a  prescription  may  be  handed  to  us  with  the  remark,  "please 
hurry,  as  the  doctor  is  waiting  to  administer  the  first  dose  himself." 
Upon  looking  at  the  manuscript  we  find  that  it  has  evidently  been 
hastily  scrawled  with  lead  pencil,  probably  at  the  bedside  of  the  pa- 
tient, and  only  by  much  study,  and  some  "  guesswork,"  are  we  able 
to  make  it  out.  I  venture  to  say  that  all  of  my  professional  brethren 
have  gone  through  this  experience. 
But  examples  such  as  these  might  be  multiplied  to  an  almost  in- 
definite extent — let  these  suffice.  It  remains  for  us  to  consider  the 
remedy  or  remedies  for  this  state  of  affairs.  This  I  leave  to  older 
and  more^experienced  heads  than  mine,  only  hoping  that  my  humble 
endeavor  may  have  the  effect  of  calling  attention  to  the  great  need  of 
practical  instruction  in  extemporaneous  pharmacy  in  our  pharma- 
ceutical schools  and  colleges,  and  also  in  the  store.  There  are  some 
proprietors  who  insist  on  making  all  their  preparations  themselves,  and 
even  boast  of  so  doing,  thus  giving  their  students  no  means  of  acquiring 
practically  a  knowledge  of  the  daily  routine  of  the  laboratory.  How 
these  parties  can  expect  to  train  up  thorough  pharmacists  is  more 
than  the  writer  of  this  can  understand. 
Nor  is  this  all  that  is  needed.  Who  doubts  that  if  a  course  of 
practical  pharmacy  formed  a  part  of  the  curriculum  of  our  medical 
schools  there  would  be  fewer  deaths  from  "  mistakes  "  to  record. 
And  may  we  all,  physicians  and  druggists,  remember  that  we  shall 
be  called  upon  hereafter  to  account  for  "  the  deeds  done  in  the  body," 
and  may  we  realize  that  it  is  our  bounden  duty  to  make  the  most  of 
our  advantages,  and  to  acquire  as  thorough  a  knowledge  as  possible 
of  our  avocations. 
Philadelphia,  March,  1874. 
DISINFECTANTS,  ANTISEPTICS  AND  DEODORIZERS. 
By  Adolpii  W.  Miller,  M  D.,  Ph.  D. 
Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting  March  1 7th. 
The  above  terms  appear  to  be  regarded  by  many  as  being  almost 
synonymous  in  their  meaning,  and  consequently  they  are  freely  in- 
11 
