574 
Minutes  of  the  College. 
(  Am.  Jour,  Phabjs. 
1    Dec.  1,  1873. 
can  be  construed  so  that  honest  people  pursuing  an  honorable  calling  cannot 
live  under  it  without  being  subject  to  such  pains,  penalties,  expense  and  busi- 
ness inconvenience,  should  be  repealed  as  a  simple  act  of  justice" 
The  action  of  Commissioner  Douglass  has  had  one  good  effect:  it  has  shown 
to  many  druggists  and  pharmacists  the  necessity  and  importance  of  united 
action,  and  the  danger  of  preserving  a  state  of  isolation.  An  organization  of 
the  drug  and  pharmaceutical  trade  of  the  State  of  Maryland  has  been  effected, 
at  present  with  the  object  of  consulting  about  the  Internal  Revenue  law,  and 
the  latest  decisions  under  it.  With  a  similar  object  in  view,  the  druggists  of 
Janesville.  Wisconsin,  held  a  meeting  November  14,  at  which  Hon.  Mr.  Wih 
Hams,  member  of  Congress,  was  present,  and  promised  to  lend  his  aid  towards 
a  modification  of  the  ruling.  We  have  been  informed  of  similar  efforts  being 
made  in  other  States,  and  sincerely  trust  that  these  organizations  may  become 
permanent  ones. 
We  venture  the  assertion  that  there  is  hardly  a  trade  or  profession  the  mem- 
bers of  which  have  more  cheerfully  submitted  to  this  kind  of  taxation  by 
stamps  than  the  druggists  and  pharmacists.  Their  united  opposition  to  the 
new  principles  introduced  into  an  old  law  clearly  proves,  therefore,  how  oppres- 
sive and  unjust  these  are  regarded  by  them. 
In  connection  with  this  subject,  it  is  but  proper  to  acknowledge  the  position 
towards  this  "new  departure"  taken  by  many  of  the  most  influential  of  the 
political  papers  throughout  the  country.  They  have  done  a  great  deal  to  con- 
vince the  public  of  the  burden  the  "  new  views"  would  entail  upon  them,  and 
to  secure  the  co-operation  of  every  intelligent  person  throughout  the  country 
in  the  efforts  of  effecting  a  modification  or  an  entire  repeal  of  the  section. 
Effervescent  Solution  of  Tartrate  of  Sodium. — In  the  July  number  a 
formula  for  the  above  preparation  has  been  published,  which  appears  to  have 
been  favorably  received  by  many  of  the  readers  of  the  "Journal."  We  have 
been  informed  by  a  correspondent  that,  adding  gradually  the  carbonate  of 
sodium  to  the  solution  of  tartaric  acid,  the  liquid  assumed  the  form  of  a  thick 
and  almost  solid  magma  when  about  one-half  of  the  carbonate  had  been  added, 
in  consequence  of  the  crystallization  of  bitartrate  of  sodium.  This  is,  with 
some  difficulty,  and  by  the  application  of  a  gentle  heat,  combined  with  the  re- 
maining soda.  Our  correspondent  advises,  very  properly,  to  dissolve  the  car- 
bonate first,  and  ac  d  to  it  the  acid. 
Pills  of  Sulphate  of  Quinia. — Mr.  C.  C.  Patterson,  of  St.  Clairsville,  0., 
in  a  communication  to  the  editor,  suggests  that  these  pills  may  be  made  of 
small  size  rnd  without  any  gum,  syrup  or  extract,  by  adding  to  the  quinia  a 
little  tartaric  acid  and  sufficient  water.  This  is  a  modification  of  the  plan  pub- 
lished by  Prof.  Parrish  in  this  journal  in  1853,  and  which  consists  in  adding 
aromatic  sulphuric  acid  to  the  quinia  and  rolling  the  mass  before  it  hardens^ 
which  takes  place  rather  suddenly,  and  may  be  retarded,  particularly  when 
operating  upon  a  larger  quantity,  by  the  addition  of  a  very  small  quantity  of 
honey  or  simple  syrup. 
