Am.  Jour.  Plmrni. 
Jan.,  1886. 
Editorial. 
51 
Mr.  Lowe  referred  to  the  statement  that  iodol  (see  Am.  Jour.  Phqr.,  1885,  p.  605) 
containing  94  per  cent,  of  iodine,  had  been  used  for  the  same  or  similar  pur- 
poses as  iodoform,  and  had  the  advantage  of  being  free  from  the  unpleasant 
odor  which  almost  prevented  the  use  of  the  latter  in  private  practice.  This 
gave  rise  to  a  discussion  upon  the  best  means  of  disguising  the  odor  of  iodoform  ; 
among  other  methods,  the  use  of  extract  of  vanilla,  thymol,  oil  of  bitter  almonds 
and  oil  of  verbena  were  recommended ;  but  it  was  generally  agreed  that  none 
were  entirely  efficient  for  the  purpose.  Prof.  Maisch  stated  that  thymol  had 
been  mentioned  as  an  adulterant  of  menthol,  and  referred  to  recent  investiga- 
tions made  by  Prof.  Fluckiger,  showing  that  the  two  crystalline  substances  left 
in  contact,  become  liquid.  Older  observations  had  shown  an  analogous  behavior 
between  camphor,  chloral  and  phenol.  These  facts  rendered  it  desirable  that 
the  experiments  be  extended  to  other  stearoptens. 
There  being  no  further  business,  a  motion  to  adjourn  was  carried. 
T.  S.  Wiegakd,  Registrar. 
EDITORIAL  DEPARTMENT. 
The  Fifty-eighth  Volume  of  this  Journal  com  menses  with  the  present  issue. 
Great,  indeed,  are  the  changes  which  have  taken  place  in  pharmacy  since  the 
Journal  first  made  its  appearance  as  a  regular  periodical  in  1829.  As  an  applied 
science,  pharmacy  must  follow  in  the  wake  of  those  sciences  upon  which  it 
mainly  relies,  namely,  botany  and  chemistry,  in  both  of  which — but  more  par- 
ticularly in  the  latter — unusual  activity  has  prevailed  for  many  years,  resulting 
in  making  more  or  less  permanent  impress  upon  the  scope,  as  did  the  progress 
in  mechanical  and  physical  science  upon  manipulative  pharmacy.  Education 
has  been  extended,  not  merely  by  the  increase  of  the  number  of  educational 
institutions,  but,  what  is  of  greater  importance,  by  the  enlargement  of  the  cur- 
riculum and  by  the  offering  of  laboratory  facilities.  Pharmaceutical  societies 
have  been  organized,  laws  enacted  for  the  regulation  of  the  practice  of  phar- 
macy, a<id  the  literature  partaining  to  pharmacy  has  baen  greatly  increased. 
As  an  accurate  record  of  thess  and  kindred  changes,  and  of  other  facts  per- 
taining to  pharmacy,  the  Journal  extends  over  more  than  half  a  century;  and 
it  enters  upon  its  new  volume  with  the  aim  of  making  the  record  at  least  equally 
full  and  reliable  in  the  future.  That  further  great  changes  must  be  expected  is 
obvious  from  the  continued  advances  made  by  the  fundamental  sciences;  but  to 
what  these  will  ultimately  lead  cannot  with  any  degree  of  certainty  be  foretold. 
Faithful  to  its  purpose,  the  Journal  will  continue  its  devotion  to  the  advancement 
of  pharmaceutical  knowledge — scientific  as  well  as  practical — and  of  pharmaceu- 
tical education,  and  pharmaceutical  literature  in  general  will  receive  due  atten- 
tion. To  the  generous  contributors  and  correspondents,  who  in  the  past  have 
aided  his  labors,  the  editor  returns  his  grateful  acknowledgements  and  bespeaks 
a  continuance  of  their  valued  interest  in  the  Journal,  and  in  its  aims  and  objects, 
an  interest  which  he  sincerely  hopes  may  also  be  shared  by  numerous  other 
friends  who  have  a  warm  feeling  for  the  progress  of  pharmacy,  but  who,  from 
some  cause  or  other,  have  hitherto  been  unable  to  put  in  writing  their  investi- 
gations and  observations  on  practical  or  scientific  pharmaceutical  subjects,  whe- 
ther made  in  the  laboratory  or  behind  the  prescription  counter. 
