FACILITIES  FOR  DISPENSING  MEDICINE. 
cipitate  of  bismuth  itself  when  no  phosphate  is  present.  They 
suggest  the  following  modification  of  the  test,  by  which  they  say 
one-third  of  a  grain  of  phosphate  of  lime  is  easily  detected  : 
"  To  one  part  of  the  salt  of  bismuth  dissolved  in  weak  nitric 
acid  add  two  parts  of  citric  acid ;  dissolve  with  the  aid  of  a  little 
water  ;  add  an  excess  of  solution  of  ammonia,  and  boil.  Any 
phosphate  present  will  be  thrown  down  with  continuous  boiling 
of  the  solution." 
Although  absence  from  home  prevents  my  adding  my  own  ex- 
perience on  the  subject,  I  am  anxious,  on  the  unquestionable 
authority  of  Messrs.  Howard,  at  once  to  guard  those  who  may 
have  been  induced  to  use  Mr.  Roussin's  test  against  the  errone- 
ous conclusions  to  which  it  appears  it  may  lead.  In  the  cases 
referred  to  in  my  former  note,  I  had  obtained  evidence  of  the 
adulteration  indicated  by  other  and  perfectly  trustworthy  means 
before  my  attention  was  directed  to  Mr.  Roussin's  test. — Lond. 
Pharm.  Journ.,  Sept.,  1868. 
FACILITIES  FOR  DISPENSING  MEDICINE. 
By  Henry  Biroth. 
The  position  held  towards  the  public  by  the  apothecary  is  an 
extremely  difficult  one.  His  qualifications  entitle  him  to  the  first 
rank  of  society  ;  but  while  the  public  expects  that  he  should 
have  all  the  qualifications  necessary  for  the  proper  performance 
of  his  duties,  it  by  no  means  extends  to  him  commensurate 
praise.  Courteousness  and  affability,  conscientiousness  and 
accuracy,  are  but  a  few  of  the  qualifications  that  are  demanded 
of  the  pharmacist.  To  fill  his  position  to  the  general  satisfaction 
he  should  be  a  model  of  talent  and  virtue.  As  the  compound- 
ing of  prescriptions  is  the  true  object  of  pharmacy,  all  other 
tasks  and  efforts  being  but  expedients  for  attaining  this  end,  it 
is  requisite  for  the  apothecary  to  possess  cleverness  and  activity 
in  preparing  prescriptions.  In  appending  the  following,  I  there- 
fore believe  I  can  offer  him  some  facilities  which  will  prove  both 
time-  and  labor-saving. 
1.  A  Solution  of  Sulphate  of  Quinine  in  Sulphuric  Acid. — 
Take  of  sulphate  of  quinine  one  ounce,  mix  with  eight  ounces 
