406 
Criticisms  of  the  U.S. P. 
f Am.  Jorr.  Pharm. 
\  September.  1906. 
etnulgere,  to  milk  out,  past  participle  emulsus.  It  was  first  used  to 
describe  the  milk  of  almonds,  milked  out  from  the  blanched  almonds. 
In  what  respect "  emulsio  "  is  not  satisfactory  does  not  appear. 
With  antipyrine  recognized  it  is  not  easy  to  see  why  sulphonal 
and  trional  should  not  have  been  Latinized  more  simply  than  under 
the  pedantic  barbarisms  of  "  sulphonmethanum  "  and  u  sulphon- 
ethylmethanum.  "  Manganum  "  is  better  than  "  manganesium," 
especially  because  it  more  clearly  distinguishes  the  element  from 
magnesium;  but  the  abbreviation  of  ipecacuanha  to  "ipecac," 
common  and  convenient  as  it  is  in  commerce  and  conversation, 
ought  not  to  be  encouraged  in  a  book  of  authority  for  historic 
reasons.    (Xrayser,  in  Chew,  and  Drug.,  1905,  p.  89.) 
OBJECTIONS  TO  WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES. 
As  in  the  last  revision  the  metric  system  of  weights  and  measures 
is  used  exclusively,  except  where  doses  are  concerned,  and  while 
this  is  all  right  from  a  scientific  point  of  view,  the  universal  adop- 
tion of  the  metric  system  in  this  country  is  still  a  long  way  off,  and 
the  instructions  of  the  convention  tend  to  limit  the  usefulness  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia.  We  predict  that  the  next  revision  will  include 
alternative  weights  and  measures,  which  the  pharmacists  have  for 
some  years  been  demanding.  In  the  preface  are  given  approximate 
measures  which  should  be  used  to  designate  doses  of  liquid  medi- 
cines. A  teaspoonful  is  equivalent  to  4  c.c.  or  I  fluid  drachm,  a 
dessertspoonful  to  8  c.c.  or  2  fluid  drachms,  and  a  tablespoonful  to  16 
c.c.  or  4  fluid  drachms.  The  almost  universal  practice  to-day  is  to 
make  5  c.c.  the  equivalent  of  one  teaspoonful.  {Drug  Topics,  1905, 
page  229.) 
USE  OF  METRIC  SYSTEM  COMMENDED. 
Opposition  to  the  metric  system  still  exists,  and  its  use  is  felt  by 
many  to  entail  a  great  deal  of  vexation ;  but  the  consensus  of 
opinion  among  scientific  men  the  world  over  is  overwhelmingly  in 
its  favor,  and  while  its  general  use  may  be  delayed  until  the  present 
generation  of  physicians  and  druggists  shall  pass  away,  it  is  sure  to 
prevail  in  the  end.  Let  us  help  along  the  good  work  it  we  can,  or 
at  least  let  us  not  hinder  it.  (Dr.  John  M.  Francis,  in  Bulletin  of 
Pharmacy,  1905,  page  275.) 
