88 
EDITORIAL. 
Under  the  head  of  Pulveres  Simplices  are  some  general  observations 
in  relation  to  the  powders  of  simple  drugs.  These  are  divided  into  four 
classes :  1st.  Those  which  pass  through  a  silk  sieve  of  40  meshes  to  the 
centimetre  (=  100  per  inch),  of  which  there  are  two  kinds  :  A,  those  pow- 
dered without  residue,  as  aloes,  cinchona,  gamboge,  rhubarb,  &c.',  and  B, 
those  powdered  with  a  residue,  as  digitalis,  hyoscyamus,  senna  and  ipecac. 
The  second  class  pass  a  sieve  32  meshes  to  the  centimetre  (72  per  inch). 
The  third  class  through  a  sieve  18  meshes  to  the  centimetre  (45  per 
inch).  The  fourth  class  are  made  with  a  wire  sieve,  10  meshes  to  the 
centimetre,  or  25  per  inch,  such  as  flax  seed  and  black  mustard, 
There  are  about  19  syrups,  among  which  is  the  following  singular  for- 
mula for  syrup  of  squills,  which  we  quote  verbatim  as  a  sample  of  the 
text,  viz.: 
"  Syrupus  Scillittcus  (sjolok  syrup). 
Rec.  Rhizomatis  Zingiberis   partem  unam  1 
Bulbi  Scilli3e  partes  duas  2 
Herbse  Hyssopi  partes  quatuor  4 
Contusa  et  concisa  in  vase  clauso  per  diem  noctemque  macerantur  cum 
Aquse  Mentha3  piperitse  tanta  copia 
ut  liquor  exprimendo  colatus  et  filtratus  pondus  habeat 
partium  triginta  quinque  35 
quae  cum 
Sacchari  Albi  partibus  trihus  et  sexaginta  63 
Galore  leni  adhibito  in  syrupum  convertantur." 
This  formula  also  serves  to  show  the  plan  of  bringing  forward  the  ingre- 
dients in  a  formula  as  the  manipulation  requires  them. 
The  only  modus  operandi  for  tinctures  is  maceration  for  five  days  in  a 
close  vessel,  with  occasional  agitation,  followed  by  expression  and  filtra- 
tion. The  method  of  percolation  as  understood  here  is  not  mentioned  in 
the  work. 
Among  the  ointments  Unguentum  Cetacei  has  the  synonym  of  *' Cold 
Cream,"  and  is  prepared  thus  :  4  parts  of  white  wax,  5  of  spermaceti,  and 
28  of  oil  of  almonds,  are  liquified  by  a  gentle  heat,  and  agitated  in  a  warm 
mortar  with  12  parts  of  rose  water,  until  cool.  4  parts  more  of  almond 
oil  are  then  added,  and  the  mixture  beaten  to  a  soft  very  white  ointment. 
Unguentum  Giycerini  is  Schacht's  glycamyl,  made  by  heating  2  parts 
of  starch,  1  of  water,  and  10  of  glycerin  until  the  mixture  becomes  trans- 
lucent. 
A  peculiarity  of  this  Pharmacopoeia,  also  noticed  in  some  German 
codes,  are  tables  relative  to  the  doses  of  medicines  and  poisons. 
Table  A  exhibits  the  maximum  dose,  for  an  adult,  of  powerful  medi- 
cines. 
Table  B  exhibits  medicines  which  are  not  to  be  dispensed  except  on 
the  prescription  of  a  physician  or  by  permission  of  the  proprietor,  and 
which  are  kept  in  locked  closets. 
