A^anuarryfm6rm'}     Inorganic  Chemicals  of  the  US  P.  u 
recognition  of  an  old  friend,  exploited  far  more  largely  ten  years 
since  than  it  is  to-day. 
The  substitution  of  Effervescent  Magnesium  Sulphate  for  the  effer- 
vescent magnesium  citrate  of  the  last  pharmacopoeia  is  scarcely  an 
improvement,  although  the  change  may  be  appreciated  by  those 
who  are  looking  for  easier  methods  of  manufacture.  The  change  in 
method  of  granulating  of  this  and  all  other  official  effervescent 
salts — softening  the  mass  by  fusion  of  citric  acid,  instead  of  with 
alcohol — is  a  distinct  advance.  * 
While  speaking  of  the  new  effervescent  salts  mention  must  be 
made  of  Effervescent  Sodium  Phosphate,  which  promises  to  be  the 
most  popular  preparation  of  this  class  of  officials. 
The  introduction  of  Compound  Syrup  of  Hypophosphites,  similar 
to  that  of  the  last  edition  of  the  National  Formulary,  satisfactorily 
settles  the  question  long  vexing  the  retail  pharmacist  as  to  which 
of  the  two  official  and  several  unofficial  forms  of  syrup  of  hypophos- 
phites  should  be  dispensed  on  prescriptions  calling  for  "  Syr. 
Hypophos.  Comp." 
OMISSIONS. 
Most  of  the  chemicals  omitted  from  U.S. P.,  VIII,  either  were 
products  of  little  value  or  of  service  only  in  preparing  other  chemicals 
no  longer  official  or  the  manufacture  of  which  is  no  longer  given. 
Among  such  we  might  cite  Barium  Dioxide,  used  in  U.S.P.  1890 
for  making  solution  of  hydrogen' dioxide  ;  and  Ferrous  Lactate,  used 
in  the  now  unofficial  syrup  of  hypophosphites  with  iron.  Two 
seemingly  unnecessary  omissions  are  Sulphurated  Antimony,  which 
is  a  very  popular  expectorant  among  the  French  physicians  of  the 
South  ;  and  more  particularly  Solution  of  Ferric  Citrate.  In  dis- 
pensing pharmacy,  the  liquid  form  of  the  slowly  soluble  ferric  citrate 
is  invaluable,  and  while,  of  course,  this  can  still  be  used,  even  though 
unofficial,  its  omission  is  unfortunate,  especially  since  the  process  of 
manufacture  of  even  ferric  citrate  is  not  given  in  the  new  pharma- 
copoeia. 
CHANGES   IN  NAMES. 
The  conversion  of  the  lamiliar  names,  arsenoys  acid  and  chromic 
acid  into  Arsenic  Trioxide  and  Chromium  Trioxide  respectively,  while 
scarcely  destined  to  become  popular  in  prescription  writing,  is  a  step 
toward  correct  nomenclature.    Not  so,  however,  with  the  substitu  - 
