436 
Book  Reviews. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
(  September,  1915. 
action  in  sterilizing  infected  organic  matter.  The  acid  can  be  used  as 
a  gas  or  as  a  solution  in  water.  Their  method  of  directing  the  gas  to 
a  wound  was  to  mix  intimately  equal  parts  of  bleaching  powder  and 
boric  acid  powder  and  apply  on  gauze  to  the  infected  wound;  the 
moisture  in  the  wound,  of  course,  would  liberate  hypochlorous  acid 
gas.  A  solution  of  the  gas  was  also  found  to  be  of  much  value  as  a 
wet  dressing.  It  was  found  that  a  one-half  per  cent,  solution  gave 
practically  no  pain  and  retained  its  potency  about  three  weeks.  The 
solution  is  most  conveniently  made  by  adding  12.5  grammes  of  bleach- 
ing powder  to  a  litre  of  water,  shaking  vigorously,  then  adding  12.5 
grammes  boric  acid  powder  and  shaking  again.  The  solution  is  al- 
lowed to  stand  over  night  and  filtered.  The  clear  solution  is  then 
ready  for  use 
This  solution  contains : 
Hypochlorous  acid   0.54  per  cent. 
Calcium  borate   1.28  per  cent. 
Calcium  chloride   0.17  per  cent. 
They  conclude  that  the  gas  and  the  solution,  while  extremely 
potent  against  organisms  and  their  spores,  cause  little  or  no  harm  to 
the  tissues  ;  that  the  effect  is  purely  local ;  the  decomposition  products 
are  devoid  of  toxicity,  and  there  is,  therefore,  no  danger  to  be  ap- 
prehended from  absorption.  It  also  has  the  desirable  advantage  of 
being  inexpensive.  {The  British  Medical  Journal,  July  24,  1915, 
No.  2847,  page  129.) 
John  K.  Thum. 
BOOK  REVIEWS. 
The  Druggist  and  His  Profits.  By  Harry  B.  Mason.  Published 
by  E.  G.  Swift,  Detroit,  Michigan. 
This  excellent  little  book,  written  by  Mr.  Mason,  who  has  for 
many  years  studied  the  financial  conditions  existing  in  the  retail  drug 
business,  should  be  read  by  every  druggist. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  study  these  chapters  in  which  scientific 
business  methods  are  explained  and  urged  without  even  the  most 
reluctant  or  pessimistic  being  impressed  by  the  importance  of  their 
adoption. 
The  many  illustrations  cited  from  the  experience  of  real  stores 
show  the  need  for  better  records  and  a  more  exact  analysis  of  busi- 
