290 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
any benefit; we have become so addicted to the terms, pounds, 
ounces, and drachms, and so habituated to their use, that 
whatever might be the advantages of a change, such a change 
never could be effected, where it was to be accomplished by 
the voluntary action of those whose functions are to be con- 
trolled. In France, the decimal system is peculiarly eligible, 
because all their measures of length, capacity, and currency, 
are expressed in decimals. To return, however, to the direc- 
tions given for the preparation of formulae, we extract, for 
example, the formula for Vinegar of opium, or acetic tincture 
of opium. 
"Take of Choice opium, one ounce, 32 
Very strong vinegar, six ounces, 192 
Alcohol 31° (car.80 cents,) four ounces, 125 
Divide the opium in the vinegar, add the alcohol, let it mace- 
rate eight or ten days; strain, and filter through paper. This 
preparation contains the soluble matter of one-tenth of its 
weight, of opium. One drachm corresponds with seven grains 
of crude opium/' 
The directions here are evidently plain and intelligible, and 
the comment at the close of the formula is valuable informa- 
tion, both for the practitioner of medicine and pharmaceutist. 
Independently of the minute direction for the preparation 
of such formulas, general directions are given at the com- 
mencement of each of the chapters, included in the pharma- 
ceutical portion of the work, relating particularly to the 
preparation of the class of bodies of which it consists. These 
directions, in all cases, are preceded by an accurate definition 
of the term designating the chapter. The directions given 
for the preparation of every formula, are equally minute and 
perspicuous, and, in this respect, the Codex may be said to be 
complete. It is not our design to contrast it throughout 
with the United States Pharmacopoeia, and, unless to indi- 
cate marked differences, we shall not perhaps again compare 
them. 
Our third inquiry is, whether proper cautions are given 
respecting the deterioration or decay of preparations. In this 
