218 
Editorials , 
I  Am.  Jonr.  Phartu 
\       April.  1892. 
that  some  parties  would  expect  the  weight  of  the  ground  drug  to  be  equal  to- 
that  of  the  crude  drug  furnished,  while  there  was  an  unavoidable  loss  by  drying, 
unpowdered  remnants  and  by  handling. 
Professor  Trimble  gave  the  results  of  the  assay  of  a  number  of  preparations 
which  has  been  procured  from  retail  stores,  and  said  that  he  would  embody  the 
figures  in  a  paper  ;  the  examination  showed  much  want  of  care  on  the  part  of 
some  retailers. 
A  paper  on  Sodium  Benzoate,  by  H.  F.  Kaercher,  of  the  present  senior  class, 
was  read,  and  led  to  a  discussion  about  the  various  kinds  of  benzoic  acid  on  the 
market  ;  it  was  stated  that  benzoic  acid  sublimed  from  benzoin  could  be  pro- 
cured, but  that  a  great  deal  was  artificially  prepared  from  toluol;  also  that 
formerly  there  was  a  variety  on  the  market  made  from  the  urine  of  cattle,  to 
which  the  urinous  odor  adhered  very  persistently  until  it  had  been  sublimed 
with  some  benzoin. 
F.  W.  Haussmann's  paper  upon  soda  mint  was  read  by  Dr.  C.  B.  Lowe.  The 
discussion  showed  that  spearmint  water  had  been  used  by  nearly  all  the  mem- 
bers present. 
Dr.  Lowe  exhibited  Shannon's  prescription  file  and  cases.  It  consists  of  a 
board  with  two  curved  steel  wires  and  a  covering  board  with  spring,  which  keeps 
the  prescriptions  flat.  To  examine  a  prescription  the  covering  board  is  raised 
and  thrown  back,  when  the  prescriptions  can  be  slid  back  upon  the  curved 
wire  until  the  one  wanted  is  found.  The  cases  are  made  somewhat  like  the 
sides  and  back  of  a  book,  the  bottom  board  of  the  file  being  fastened  to  one 
side  of  the  case  when  the  file  is  filled  and  ready  to  be  put  away  ;  a  pasteboard 
cover  fits  over  the  ends  and  side  of  the  file  to  enclose  it  and  prevent  access  of 
dust.    It  is  made  by  the  Office  Specialty  Company,  of  Rochester,  X.  Y. 
Mr.  Beringer  sent  the  Lehman  prescription  file  for  inspection  of  the  meet- 
ing. It  consists  of  a  small  inclined  board  fastened  to  a  little  case  containing  a 
wrench,  eyelets  and  washers  ;  the  prescriptions  are  perforated  by  the  eyeleting 
machine,  and  when  two  hundred  have  been  collected  the  washer  is  slipped  over 
the  end  of  the  eyelet,  which  is  then  crimped  down,  securely  locking  all  the 
prescriptions  ;  the  prescriptions  are  then  packed  in  small  flat  boxes  of  a  size 
suited  to  the  prescription  papers,  and  packed  away  in  a  tin  frame,  which  will 
hold  eight  such  boxes  ;  on  the  end  of  the  box  the  initial  and  concluding  num- 
ber of  each  series  is  marked;  the  frame  is  so  arranged  that  each  one  added  fits 
on  the  top  of  the  last  one  filled  up.  It  is  made  by  the  Minneapolis  (Minn. ) 
Specialty  Manufacturing  Company. 
Mr.  England  exhibited  a  sample  of  Ammonium  carbonate  tinged  with  iron ;. 
also  piperazifi,  a  derivative  of  piperine  and  a  solvent  for  uric  acid  ;  it  is  made 
by  E.  Schering,  of  Berlin. 
There  being  no  further  business,  adjournment  was  moved  and  carried. 
T.  S.  Wiegaxd,  Registrar. 
EDITORIAL. 
Professor  F.  B.  Power,  with  the  present  month,  severs  his  connection  with 
the  vSchool  of  Pharmacy  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  which,  under  his 
guidance  since  its  organization,  nine  years  ago,  has  established  a  well-deserved 
reputation,  not  only  in  the  State,  but  far  beyond  its  boundaries.  Professor 
