AmDe0cU,ri8P7h9arm }  Improved  Troche  Board.  589 
their  good  character.  The  public  soon  learn  to  appreciate  the  relative 
value  of  the  various  forms  of  medicine,  and  when  our  patrons  insist  upon 
having  a  freshly  prepared,  or  an  uncoated  pill,  there  is  a  hopeful  sign  of 
a  return  to  wisdom  and  sound  principle. 
We  have  been  prompted  to  write  these  thoughts  from  a  realization 
of  the  fact  that  there  is  prevalent  the  idea  that  a  multiplication  of  forms 
of  medicine  indicates  progress.  It  indicates  to  our  mind  that  the  busi- 
ness and  office  of  the  dispenser  is  fast  passing  out  of  his  hands — he  is 
no  longer  to  be  permitted  even  to  compound.  Any  manufacturer  who 
can  favorably  impress  the  physician  (and  it  is  to  this  most  susceptible 
individual  he  goes  first)  with  the  claims  of  his  products,  now  becomes 
the  compounder,  and  the  apothecary  merely  his  agent  for  their  dissemi- 
nation. This  state  of  things  is  fast  reducing  the  dispenser  to  the  grade 
of  a  mere  trafficker,  and,  unless  he  bestir  himself  and  resist,  he  may 
soon  stand  side  by  side  with  the  green-grocer. 
IMPROVED  TROCHE  BOARD. 
By  F.  L.  Slocum. 
Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting  November  18. 
As  yet  there  has  not  been  a  troche  board  introduced  that  was  simple, 
readily  adjustable  and  economical. 
Undoubtedly,  pharmacists  have  long  felt  this  want,  especially  when 
tryingtocut  trochesof  a  certain  weight,  whereaccuracy  was indispensible. 
This  want,  I  believe,  will  be  supplied  by  the  troche-board  constructed 
by  me,  and  which  has  given  me  such  perfect  satisfaction  that  I  can 
recommend  it  for  the  favorable  consideration  of  those  interested. 
In  the  improved  board  exhibited  I  claim  simplicity,  perfect  and  ready 
adjustment  and  inexpensiveness.  It  can  be  instantly  adjusted  to  less 
than  \  grain  (which  is  not  often  required),  of  any  desired  weight,  and 
does  wholly  away  with  the  numerous  strips  and  pasting  of  paper  required 
in  ordinary  troche-boards  to  get  any  required  thickness. 
For  the  majority  of  pharmacists  a  wooden  board,  as  described,  is  all 
that  is  required,  but  obviously  it  may  be  made  of  marble  or  other 
material. 
A  is  a  board,  18x24  inches  surface  and  2 J  inches  thick,  made  of  hard 
wood  that  is  perfectly  dry  and  will  not  warp;  a  strip  of  wood  may  be 
screwed  across  the  bottom  of  either  end  to  prevent  further  warping. 
