374        Pennsylvania  Pharmaceutical  Association.  {Amiigust,1i9oa6.m' 
peppermint  herb  to  macerate  in  water  for  several  hours,  to  free  it 
from  the  drug  extracted.  By  this  means  the  resulting  spirit  will 
have  a  more  permanent  green  color  than  when  made  according  to 
the  official  directions.  He  also  suggests  that  doubling  the  quantity 
of  peppermint  herb  gives  a  decided  improvement,  and  that  the  same 
criticism  may  apply  to  a  spirit  of  spearmint,  both  as  to  the  method 
of  preparation  and  the  quantity  of  herb  used.  He  suggests  a 
method  of  circulatory  displacement,  in  making  tincture  of  iodine, 
by  suspending  the  iodine  and  potassium  iodide  near  the  surface  of 
the  alcohol  in  a  muslin  bag.  He  suggests  an  improvement  in  War- 
burg's tincture  of  the  National  Formulary  in  that  the  ingredients  be 
macerated  for  forty-eight  hours,  instead  of  digested,  as  in  the  present 
directions,  and  he  also  suggests  the  use  of  quinine  bi-sulphate  in 
place  of  sulphate  in  this  preparation  on  account  of  its  greater 
solubility. 
The  Sale  of  Cigars  by  Pharmacists. 
By  J.  B.  Moore. 
The  author  states  that  the  sale  of  cigars  by  pharmacists  has 
steadily  grown  for  a  number  of  years  until  now  they  have  become  an 
important  part  of  the  stock  of  a  well-equipped  drug  store,  being  no 
longer  considered  as  a  side  line  in  the  better  class  of  stores.  He 
states  that  many  druggists  make  a  mistake  of  not  catering  to  the 
popular  demand,  or  to  individual  preferences  for  certain  brands  of 
cigars,  and  gives  advice  as  to  how  to  arrange  the  display  stock  of 
this  kind  to  the  best  advantage.  He  dwells  at  some  length  on  the 
proper  method  of  keeping  the  stock  in  prime  condition,  as  there  is 
no  quicker  way  to  lose  the  cigar  trade  than  carelessness  about  this 
feature.  Carefully  written  circulars  should  frequently  be  distributed. 
Neat,  catchy  and  attractive  signs  and  show  cards  should  be  placed 
In  conspicuous  positions ;  he  presents  a  number  of  forms  for  show 
cards,  and  also  suggests  wording  for  many  catchy  signs  to  help  this 
feature  of  the  trade. 
Is  it  True  that  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia  (8th  Revision) 
is  more  of  a  Manufacturer's  Hand-book  than  a  Pharmacist's 
Guide  ? 
By  Prof.  Joseph  P.  Remington. 
The  author  states  that,  notwithstanding  the  many  criticisms  and 
discussions  on  the  Pharmacopoeia  which  have  appeared  in  the  phar- 
