64 
Pharmacopceial  Preparations. 
(Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
X   February,  1899. 
estimating  the  purity  is  the  same  as  that  given  under  lithium 
benzoate. 
One  gramme  of  pure,  dry  lithium  salicylate  yields  0-38224  of  a 
gramme  of  lithium  sulphate  or  the  weight  of  lithium  sulphate 
multiplied  by  2-61615  gives  the  equivalent  of  lithium  salicylate, 
which,  multiplied  by  100  and  divided  by  the  weight  taken,  equals 
the  per  cent,  of  pure  lithium  salicylate. 
The  ammonium  sulphate  method  for  estimating  the  purity  of 
lithium  benzoate  or  lithium  salicylate  will  be  vitiated  in  proportion 
to  the  non-volatile  matter  present.  The  limit  tests  for  impurities 
will,  however,  reduce  this  defect  to  an  inappreciable  amount. 
35  Poplar  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
v 
PHARMACOPCEIAL  PREPARATIONS   FROM  AN 
ECONOMICAL  STANDPOINT. 
By  Charges  H.  La  Wai/c. 
The  apothecary,  druggist,  pharmacist,  pharmaceutical  chemist, 
or,  whatever  you  may  choose  to  call  the  man  who  keeps  "  the 
store  with  the  colored  show-globes  in  the  windows,"  is  an  individual 
who  makes  enormous  profits  by  charging  extortionate  prices  for 
everything  he  sells,  according  to  the  universal  opinion  of  the  laity. 
Just  when  and  where  this  idea  originated  is  involved  in  obscurity, 
but,  nevertheless,  it  is  accepted  as  a  fact  by  persons  in  almost  every 
other  line  of  business. 
The  agriculturist,  who  has  a  horse  or  cow  sick,  will  unhesitatingly 
pay  a  veterinary  doctor  $5  or  $10  for  his  services,  but  will  complain 
if  the  druggist  charges  him  50  cents  for  the  medicine  which  renders 
the  cure  possible. 
The  pharmacist's  education  requires  just  as  much  time  and 
expense  as  that  of  the  veterinary,  but  this  fact  is  ignored,  probably 
because  he  furnishes  something  tangible,  which  the  purchaser 
believes  he  could  get  more  cheaply,  if  he  could  know  just  what  he 
requires.  That  is  the  point  which  is  overlooked,  i.  e.,  that  the 
pharmacist  has  expended  his  time  and  money  to  learn  how  to  com- 
pound these  various  medicaments  and  all  about  their  properties. 
Now,  since  the  educational  course  in  pharmacy  is  longer  in  dura- 
tion and  greater  in  expense  entailed ;  and  now  that  laws  are  being 
enacted  which  require  all  preparations  to  conform  to  certain  stand- 
