As™ptembefhi903."}    Powder  Mixer  and  Percolator  Support.  407 
oil  which  is  distilled,  and  to  those  who  employ  these  oils  for  their 
flavoring  properties,  it  is  essential  that  they  are  not  substituted  one 
for  the  other,  both  from  an  economic  as  well  as  a  practical  stand- 
point. 
In  conclusion,  we  would  say,  that  with  our  present  knowledge  of 
these  oils,  it  would  seem  advisable  to  continue  in  the  Pharmacopoeia 
Oleum  Gaultheriae,  Oleum  Betulae  Volatile  and  Methyl  Salicylas. 
A  POWDER  MIXER  AND  A  PERCOLATOR  SUPPORT.1 
By  H.  F.  Ruhi,. 
The  accompanying  photographs  illustrate  a  home-made  powder 
mixer  made  by  the  writer,  except  the  iron  work,  which  was  done  by 
a  neighboring  blacksmith.  It  is  constructed  on  the  principle  of  a 
butter-churn,  which,  by  means  of  a  crank,  is  made  to  revolve  on  its 
axis,  thus  turning  end  over  end  and  causing  the  contents  to  become 
thoroughly  mixed. 
The  dimensions  of  the  frame  are  as  follows :  The  side  up- 
rights are  of  2  x  4  lumber,  and  are  48  inches  long;  the  cross 
pieces  of  the  frame  are  of  1  x  3  lumber  and  28  inches  long.  The 
box,  or  powder  mixer  proper,  is  18  inches  square  and  30  inches 
high.  The  lid  is  made  of  two  boards,  with  the  grain  of  the 
wood  crossing  at  right  angles  to  prevent  warping.  The  board  on 
the  under  side  of  the  lid  is  an  inch  smaller  all  around,  as  shown  in 
the  smaller  photograph,  and  fits  snugly  into  the  top  of  the  box ; 
the  lid  is  fastened  in  place  by  four  door-shutter  screws,  such  as  were 
used  years  ago  on  the  front  doors  of  many  pharmacies. 
The  iron  work  for  each  axle  consists  of  two  pieces  of  iron 
x  12  inches,  crossed  at  right  angles,  to  the  centre  of  which  (at  right 
angles)  is  fastened  the  axle  proper,  1  inch  thick  and  about  10 
inches  long.  (See  smaller  photograph.)  On  the  inner  side  of  the 
frame,  where  the  uprights  cross,  iron  plates  4  inches  square  and 
3x16  inches  thick,  with  a  hole  I  inch  through  the  centre,  are  fas- 
tened, in  which  the  axles  revolve.  On  each  oi  the  axles  inside  of 
the  iron  plates,  a  flange  is  made,  so  as  to  keep  the  mixer  from  shift- 
ing from  side  to  side.     Each  axle  is  fastened  with  eight  bolts  (two 
1  Read  at  the  meeting  of  the  Pennsylvania  Pharmaceutical  Association, 
June,  1903,  and  communicated  by  the  author. 
