74 
Business  Aspects  of  Pharmacy. 
Am.  Jour.  Pbarm, 
Feb.,  1892. 
455'7>  or  7»29i>by  its  specific  gravity,  and  the  product  will  be  the 
weight  desired.  Say,  for  example,  that  the  weight  of  a  fluidounce  of 
alcohol  is  required ;  the  specific  gravity  of  alcohol  at  the  common 
temperature  is  0*820,  and  4557  multiplied  by  this  will  give  the 
desired  weight.  If  chloroform  is  used  we  multiply  by  1-485,  or  if 
stronger  ether,  by  0725.  Where  extreme  accuracy  is  required  it 
becomes  essential  to  first  ascertain  the  specific  gravity  of  the 
solvent  at  a  temperature  taken  at  the  time  of  solution,  and  then 
deduce  the  weight  of  a  fluidounce  as  above.  This,  however,  is 
rarely  necessary,  and  for  every-day  practical  purposes  is  not 
essential. 
THE  BUSINESS  ASPECTS  OF  PHARMACY. 
By  Joseph  Harrop,  Ph.G. 
Read  before  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting, 
January  19. 
The  outlook  of  the  business  of  the  pharmacist  is  a  common  topic 
of  discussion  in  these  days,  and  not  without  good  cause  ;  indeed  the 
subject  is  a  pressing  one,  and  proofs  of  this  fact  meet  us  on  every 
hand.  From  the  distant  Pacific  slope  comes  published  word  of  the 
ill  condition  of  the  calling  in  the  cradle  of  Pharmacy  in  the  Atlantic 
States,  and  from  every  section  of  our  country  can  be  heard  spasmodic 
wails  of  anguish  telling  of  wrongs  endured. 
The  dilernma  is  intensified  by  the  diverting  from  its  original  and 
natural  channel  of  the  sale  of  the  great  illegitimates — the  proprie- 
tary class  of  goods,  which  aforetime  did  much  to  add  to  the  general 
prosperity  of  the  average  druggist.  This,  however,  while  the  most 
talked-of,  is  only  one  of  many  reasons  for  the  general  commo- 
tion now  taking  hold  of  the  former  complacent  and  commonly 
prosperous  apothecary,  which  prosperous  condition  has  become 
sadly  changed  in  these  latter  days ;  and  the  end  is  not  yet. 
The  leading  professional  journals  in  the  calling  are  lending  their 
aid  in  efforts  to  define  the  cause  and  find  the  cure.  The  remedy  in 
this  particular  ailment  is  as  plain  and  easy  as  the  most  simple  busi- 
ness problem  that  could  present  itself.  It  will  solve  itself,  and  is 
being  solved,  by  the  only  natural  and  possible  means,  namely,  a 
proprietor  of  an  exclusive  and  proprietary  article  has  the  power  to 
regulate  its  manufacture  and  sale,  and  to  enforce  his  conditions,  or 
