AMMayr;mfM  }      On  the  Training  of  Apprentices.  207 
Soak  the  isinglass  in  the  water  for  one  day,  then  dissolve  it  by  the 
aid  of  a  gentle  heat,  after  which  strain  it  and  add  the  alcohol  and 
glycerin.  The  mixture  being  now  ready  for  use,  is  spread  on  a  fine 
quality  of  silk  stretched  on  a  frame,  each  successive  coat  being  allowed 
to  dry  before  applying  the  next.  Heat  should  not  be  used  in  drying 
the  plaster,  as  it  is  apt  to  drive  the  glycerin  out,  and  leave  the  plaster 
streaked. 
By  another  formula,  court  plaster  is  made  in  the  following  manner. 
Russia  Isinglass,  .  ^iss. 
Resin,         .  .  .  ,3xiv. 
Alcohol, 
Water,        .  .  .  aa  q.  s. 
Glycerin,  .  .  ^ss. 
Beat  the  resin  in  a  mortar  until  perfectly  powdered,  then  dissolve 
it  in  alcohol  q.  s.,  and  mix  with  the  isinglass  solution  ;  strain  and  add 
the  glycerin. 
Court  plaster  made  in  this  way  is  very  adhesive  but  not  as  hand- 
some as  when  made  by  the  previous  formula. 
In  another  formula,  gelatin  is  used  instead  of  isinglass,  and  makes 
a  very  handsome  plaster. 
Gelatin,      .  .  .  3iss. 
Water,  .  .  Oj. 
Glycerin,    .  .  .  fl^j. 
Soak  the  gelatin  in  the  water  for  one  day,  then  dissolve  it  by  the 
aid  of  a  gentle  heat,  and  after  it  is  dissolved  add  the  glycerin. 
This  mixture,  if  spread  on  coarse  and  heavy  silk,  makes  a  white 
and  opaque  plaster  ;  while,  if  spread  on  thin  and  finer  silk,  the  plaster 
will  be  nearly  transparent  and  of  a  yellowish  tint. 
ON  THE  TRAINING  OF  APPRENTICES. 
By  Geo.  Ude. 
The  proper  plan  of  educating  young  men  in  the  profession  of  phar- 
macy is  a  question  which  is  frequently  discussed  at  the  present  time, 
and  I  think  it  very  proper  that  this  should  be  thoroughly  done. 
The  late  Professor  Parrish  has  written  a  very  able  answer  to  a  query 
about  the  preliminary  educational  requirements  of  apprentices  who 
wish  to  enter  stores  of  pharmacy.  It  may  be  readily  seen  from  this 
essay  that  he  has  been  attached  devotedly  to  our  profession,  and  that 
the  system  of  teaching  in  schools  might  be  improved  considerably. 
