558 
The  Ideal  Preceptor. 
A.m.  Jour.  Pharra. 
Nov.,  1891. 
Alum  in  bread. — Cohen  (II  Selmi  through  Bull.  Therapeut.,  1891, 
CXX,  281)  triturates  the  bread  with  water  until  disintegrated,  and 
places  in  this  mixture  a  piece  of  pure  gelatin  which  he  allows  to 
remain  for  twenty-four  hours.  It  is  then  washed  "with  cold  water 
containing  a  few  drops  of  tincture  of  haematoxylon  (1  :  10)  and  of 
a  solution  of  carbonate  of  ammonium  (1  :  10).  Should  the  gelatin 
after  this  treatment  assume  a  blue  color  alum  was  present. 
Detection  of  potassium  bromide  in  potassium  iodide. — This 
method  is  based  on  the  insolubility  of  bromide  of  mercury  in  boil- 
ing alcohol.  The  potassium  salt  is  dissolved  and  carefully  precipi- 
tated with  corrosive  sublimate  solution.  The  precipitate  is  treated 
a  number  of  times  with  boiling  alcohol  in  which  the  iodide  of  mer- 
cury is  soluble. — [Bull,  de  Therapeut.,  1 891 ,  CXXI,  p.  93.) 
Potassium  permanganate  is  formed,  according  to  J.  W.  Retgers 
(Rec.  trav.  cliim.,  x,  ij,  when  a  solution  of  potassium  manganate  is 
mixed  with  a  solution  of  ammonium  sulphate,  or  other  ammonium 
salt,  containing  much  free  ammonia ;  manganic  acid  is  liberated, 
which,  being  unable  to  combine  with  ammonia,  is  decomposed  into 
permanganic  acid  and  manganic  dioxide. 
THE  IDEAL  PRECEPTOR. 
By  Geo.  M.  Beringer,  Ph.G. 
Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy, 
October  20. 
Before  attempting  to  describe  our  ideal  preceptor,  it  is,  perhaps,  advisable  to 
explain  that  the  writer  is  not  a  proprietor.  But  for  years  it  has  been  my  lot  to 
be  daily  in  contact  with  pharmaceutical  students  and  become  more  or  less 
acquainted  with  their  shortcomings.  From  this  neutral  ground  I  venture  to 
criticise,  as  an  unbiased  observer,  those  who  have  largely  the  making  of  the 
future  of  pharmacy  in  America.  I  have  no  interest  at  stake  and  fear  that  I 
have  not  yet  learned  to  accept  the  advice  of  Mr.  Bigslow  : 
The  fust  thing  for  sound  politicians  to  larn  is, 
Thet  Truth,  to  dror  kindly  in  all  sorts  o'  harness, 
Mus'  be  kep'  in  the  abstract— for  come  to  apply  it. 
You're  ept  to  hurt  some  folks's  interists  by  it. 
Our  ideal  preceptor  is  not  he  who  possesses  the  finest  store,  the  largest  trade, 
or  the  most  fashionable  patronage.  Nor  is  it  he  who  endeavors  to  impress  you 
with  the  fact  that  he  is  making  money  and  knows  how  to  spend  it ;  whose 
team  is  little  "faster"  than  himself,  and  whose  diamond  is  brighter  than  his 
eyes.  Nor  is  our  ideal  he  who  confidentially  tells  his  clerk  that  "it  won't  do 
to  be  too  scrupulous,"  and  who,  perhaps,  keeps  a  private  bottle  behind  the 
prescription  counter  for  the  benefit  of  the  patronizing  physician.  Who  tipples 
himself  and  don't  obiect  to  his  clerks  doing  likewise.    The  contemptible,  the 
