332 
Editorial. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm, 
i     July],  1871. 
of  extract  manufactured  by  them  would  be  examined  after  it  is  put  up,  which  is 
the  only  way  to  insure  the  greatest  possible  uniformity.  While  Liebig's  ex- 
tract of  meat  may  vary  somewhat  in  the  relative  proportion  of  its  constituents 
and  even  in  color,  physical  properties  alone  do  not  afford  a  good  and  reliable 
criterion  of  its  quality.  Unobjectionable  extracts  of  meat  have  been  furnished 
by  other  companies  than  tlie  Fray  Bentos  ;  but  in  most  cases  the  assurance  is 
wanting  that  the  article  is  furnished  always  of  uniform  quality. 
Modern  Elixirs. —  We  publish  in  the  present  number  the  formulary  of 
elixirs  adopted  by  the  Newark  Pharmaceutical  Association,  to  which  we 
alluded  in  the  preceding  number,  and  take  occasion  to  express  our  gratifi- 
cation at  the  position  our  friends  have  taken.  There  is  ample  opportunity  and 
quite  sufficient  cause  for  pharmacists  in  other  parts  of  the  country  to  follow 
the  example  set  by  our  brethren  in  Baltimore,  Newark  and  some  other  cities. 
The  abuses  to  which  the  introduction  of  these  and  similar  preparations  have 
led  are  quite  numerous,  and  if  some  of  them  could  be  known  to  their  full  extent 
they  would  probably  present  an  appalling  picture. 
The  inception  of  this  class  of  preparations  probably  arose  from  the  necessity 
of  presenting  to  the  patient  some  bitter,  nauseous  drugs  in  a  pleasing  and  palat- 
able form  ;  but  of  late  years  many  parties  in  different  parts  of  the  country  have 
applied  their  ingenuity  to  the  invention  of  all  sorts  of  elixirs,  medicinal  wines,, 
and  similar  preparations,  and  unthinking  physicians  and  pliarraacists  have  pro- 
moted the  introduction  of  these  wares  to  such  an  extent  that  in  some  places 
they  have  become  a  perfect  nuisance.  A  few  bottles  of  such  preparations  left 
with  the  physician  or  apothecary,  in  many  instances  secure  their  patronage^ 
the  former  prescribing,  the  latter  recommending  these  particular  manufactures, 
until  in  some  officines  it  has  become  necessary  to  keep,  for  dispensing,  prepa- 
rations bearing  the  same  name,  but  emanating  from  half  a  dozen  and  more 
inventors.  This  deplorable  state  of  affairs  can  be  counteracted  in  but  two 
ways — either  by  the  method  adopted  by  the  Newark  Pharmaceutical  Associa- 
tion, or  by  that  inaugurated  some  years  ago  by  the  Maryland  College  of  Phar- 
macy. The  former  endeavors  to  frame  formulas,  and  rigidly  adheres  to  them  in 
all  cases  where  a  special  make  is  not  ordered  ;  the  latter  regards  them  in  the 
light  of  nostrums,  because  their  mode  of  preparation  is  withheld,  or,  if  pub- 
lished, yields  a  different  article;  hence  the  refusal  to  dispense  any  elixirs,  &c., 
unless  made  by  formulas  approved  by  the  College.  This  iatier  way,  if  more 
generally  followed,  would  doubtless  arraign  them  publicly  in  the  position  which 
they  ought  to  occupy,  and  soon  sweep  them  from  the  shelves  of  respectable 
pharmacies.  We  have  no  information  how  far  our  Baltimore  friends  have  gone 
in  this  matter.  We  remember  that  six  years  ago  they  commenced  with  elixir 
of  valerianate  of  ammonia,  and  afterwards  supplanted  commercial  bitter  wine 
of  iron,  which  is  not  bitter.  If  they  have  not  rested  there,  their  continued 
labors  ought  to  show  some  good  results  now. 
But  there  is  another  side  to  this  question,  which  shows,  perhaps,  a  still  more 
pernicious  influence.  Some  of  these  preparations  are  so  destitute  of  medicinal 
properties,  but  are  so  agreeable  to  the  taste,  that  they  may  be  taken  for  some 
