336 
Editorial. — Obituary. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharnx 
t      Juue,  1883. 
On  another  page  of  the  present  number  we  have  more  fully  entered  into 
this  subject,  and  cited  additional  examples  from  practice  to  show  that  in 
nearly  all  cast  s  ihe  changes  in  strength  are  of  no  practical  importance,  and 
that,  witli  very  few  exceptions,  the  average  dose  is  scarcely  atfected. 
2.  The  abolition  of  fluid  measures.  This  was  done  in  obedience  to  instruc- 
tions  received,  and  had  already  been  partly  adopted  by  previous  Pharma- 
copoeias ;  it  aims  at  an  exactness  which  can  be  far  more  conveniently 
reached  by  careful  weighing  than  by  careful  measuring.  It  does  not  necessi- 
tate the  prescribing  and  dispensing  by  weight.  Since  liquid  preparations- 
are  always  administered  by  measure,  Prof.  Oldberg  holds  that  each  tincture 
should  be  so  i:)repartd  that  a  convenient  and  easily  remembered  quantity 
by  measure  of  the  preparation  shall  represent  a  simple  and  easily  remem- 
bered quantity  of  the  drug.  We  agree  with  this  proposition,  and  since  it 
has  been  shown  that  with  the  few  exceptions  cited,  there  are  no  differences 
in  the  doses  of  the  corresponding  old  and  new  preparations,  this  aim  has 
been  reached  as  far  as  the  propor  ions  are  concerned  to  which  we  have 
become  accustomed  by  long  usage,  while  at  the  same  time  the  processes 
have  been  made  as  exact  as  possible  by  tlie  exclusive  use  of  weights.  We 
believe  also  that  the  same  end  might  have  been  attained  with  the  fluid 
extracts,  which  now  occuj^y  an  anomalous  position.  We  have  no  doubt  that 
the  greater  exactness  will  be  gradually  recognized,  as  pharmacists,  more- 
particularly  the  younger  pharmacists,  become  accustomed  to  the  use  of 
weights  lor  li(]uids.  The  ultimate  end  in  view  by  Prof.  Oldberg,  to  fix  the 
stren<ith  of  all  liquid  preparations  with  some  regard  to  their  uses  anddoses^ 
instead  of  by  uniform  mathematical  proportions,  certainly  deserves  atten- 
tion in  the  future  ;  if  found  advisable,  we  think  it  may  be  reached  without 
discarding  the  use  of  weights  in  the  process  of  making  them. 
3.  The  forced  introduction  of  the  metric  sj^stem  upon  an  unwilling  con- 
stituency. This  objection  may  certainly  be  dismissed  with  the  answer  that 
it  is  not  true ;  but  Prof.  Oldberg  also  shows  why  it  is  not  true.  In  the 
practical  application  of  the  working  Ibrmulas  any  system  of  weights,  or  in 
certain  cases  measures,  may  be  used,  and  physicians  may  prescribe  either 
by  weight  or  measure  of  any  system. 
Prof.  Oldberg  concludes  as  follows:  "All  who  have  the  best  interests  of^ 
medicine  and  pharmacy  at  heart  will  try  to  build  up  instead  of  tearing 
down,  the  national  standard,  and  will  seek  to  find  out  its  real  defects,  not  to 
condemn  the  book,  but  to  improve  it."  With  all  the  care  that  has  been 
bestowed  upon  it  for  years,  there  are  shortcomings  which  it  is  the  duty  of 
every  pharmacist  and  physician  to  assist  in  remedying. 
OBITUARY. 
Dr.  Edward  Peat  died  of  acute  consumption  at  Delphos,  O.,  April  19th, 
aged  28  years.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy 
class  of  1878,  and  subsequently  studied  medicine  at  the  Jefferson  Medical 
College.  He  was  an  earnest  student  and  by  faithful  attendance  to  his 
duties  had  secured  a  lucrative  practice. 
