A^c{ob\rKPi899.m'}    American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  495 
in  the  U.S. P.,  1880,  as  preferable  to  the  1890  formula.  Further,  that  elixir 
of  iron,  quinine  and  strychnine  phosphate  should  not  be  made  in  large  qifanti- 
ties,  and  should  be  stored  in  small  bottles,  perfectly  filled  to  avoid  the  discol- 
oration of  the  product,  which,  he  said,  is  prone  to  become  dark. 
J.  H.  Schmidt,  in  preparing  the  effervescent  solution  of  magnesium  citrate, 
boils  and  cools  the  water  just  previous  to  using,  and  adds  the  syrup  of  citric 
acid  to  the  solution  before  filtering.  In  this  manner  a  "  sightlier  "  prepara- 
tion is  made,  and  one  which  will  remain  clear.  To  save  time  in  making  cam- 
phorated tincture  of  opium,  he  uses  40  c.c.  of  the  tincture  instead  of  4  grammes 
of  the  powdered  opium. 
The  following  formula  was  offered  by  J.  F.  Kiedaisch,  Jr.,  in  preparing  syrup 
of  tolu  :  Balsam  of  tolu,  1*28  ozs. ;  sugar,  7  pounds  ;  water  sufficient  to  make  1 
gallon.  Place  the  balsam  of  tolu  in  a  mortar  and  add  1  pound  of  sugar,  rub 
them  together  into  a  coarse  powder,  then  mix  with  the  remaining  sugar.  Pre- 
pare a  percolator,  as  described  under  "Syrup,  U.S. P.,  1890,"  into  which  the 
mixture  is  placed,  and  proceed  to  percolate  with  distilled  water,  returning  por- 
tions of  the  percolate  until  it  runs  through  clear. 
Mr.  H.  T.  Cummings  called  attention  to  the  necessity  of  thoroughly  incorpor- 
ating pilular  extracts  into  pill  masses.  He  advised  that  the  extract  be  well 
softened  with  water  before  it  is  mixed  with  the  other  ingredients  of  the  mass. 
He  has  also  found  the  water- bath  useful  in  dissolving  the  extract  of  licorice  in 
making  brown  mixture. 
The  use  of  tincture  of  gentian  compound  as  an  acceptable  flavoring  for  elixir 
ammonium  valerianate  was  suggested  by  Chas.  H.  Ware.  He  also  finds  that  the 
sugar  for  syrup  of  wild  cherry  is  best  dissolved  by  percolation,  and  has  had 
much  trouble  filtering  the  solution  of  licorice  for  brown  mixture,  and  asks  why 
glycyrrhizin  could  not  be  used  instead  of  extract  of  licorice. 
The  following  formula  for  making  cold  cream  was  offered  by  Wm.  Gray:  White 
wax  and  spermaceti,  of  each  6  ozs. ;  expressed  oil  of  almonds,  3  lbs. ;  rose  water,  1 
lb.;  sodium  borate,  30  grs. ;  oil  of  rose,  2^  drs. ;  oil  of  patchouly,  5  drops. 
Prepare  as  directed  by  the  U.S. P.  It  was  claimed  that  this  formula  furnishes  a 
product  which  will  not  become  rancid,  and  that  the  rose  water  will  not  separ- 
ate from  the  base. 
One  of  the  interesting  features  of  the  report  was  the  comparison  of  the  files 
of  prescriptions  filled  in  the  same  locality,  written  by  the  same  class  of  physi- 
cians, for  the  same  order  of  customers,  consecutively  for  forty  years.  The 
statistics  as  presented  seemed  to  show  that  pharmacy  had  not  degenerated,  and 
that  more  was  not  required  of  the  dispenser  in  the  "good  old  days  "  than  now. 
The  comparison  made,  in  connection  with  close  observation  of  the  required 
manipulation,  proved  beyond  a  question  that  the  requirements  of  to-day  are  far 
beyond  those  of  any  period  during  the  life  of  this  Association.  This  statement 
referred  to  scientific  attainments,  ready  and  comprehensive  knowledge  and  to 
a  knowledge  of  technique  especially. 
In  conclusion,  the  report  of  the  committee  dealt  with  suggestions  and  helpful 
notes  for  the  dispensary  and  laboratory  of  the  retail  pharmacist. 
SCIENTIFIC  SECTION. 
The  meetings  of  the  Scientific  Section  were  held  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday. 
Owing  to  the  illness  of  the  Secretary,  H.  V.  Arny,  Caswell  A.  Mayo  was  made 
