Am.  Jour.  PL  arm. 
July.  1892. 
On  Spices. 
357 
strengths  and  characters  of  the  classes  of  the  pharmaceutical  pre- 
parations form  valuable  subjects  from  which  to  select  questions. 
Candidates  should  be  drilled  on  the  official  names  of  the  prepara- 
tions, with  the  English  names  and  synonyms. 
In  chemistry,  the  physical  and  chemical  properties  of  the  sub- 
stances used  as  medicines  form  an  inexhaustible  field  for  suitable 
questions.  The  effects  produced  by  mingling  various  chemical 
drugs  furnish  another  source  for  important  queries.  Practical 
familiarity  with  the  subjects  should  be  shown  by  the  recognition  of 
specimens. 
For  the  proprietor's  examination,  a  much  higher  standard  should 
be  fixed.  The  ability  to  decipher  prescriptions,  not  only  those 
which  are  fairly  well  written,  but  ones  which  are  difficult,  should  be 
a  part  of  the  examination.  The  proprietor  should  be  posted  upon 
properties,  doses  and  physical  appearances  of  official  medicines  ;  and 
he  should  know  at  least  the  doses  and  properties  of  the  new  popular 
remedies. 
Finally,  it  is  not  too  much  to  expect  the  proprietor  to  show  his 
ability  to  carry  on  business  by  passing  a  practical  examination 
before  the  Board,  where  his  competency  to  perform  the  duties  for 
which  he  is  given  a  special  license  can  be  demonstrated  thoroughly, 
in  the  presence  of  the  body  which  gives  him  his  authority. 
AN  ESSAY  ON  SPICES. 
By  Charles  A.  Heinitsh. 
Read  before  the  Pennsylvania  Pharmaceutical  Association,  June  16. 
An  essay  on  the  Selection  of  Spices,  asked  for  by  the  Association 
and  assigned  to  the  writer,  is,  or  may  be  considered,  an  evidence 
that  the  sale  of  spices  is  a  legitimate  part,  or  a  legitimate  adjunct  to 
a  drug  store,  and  particularly  to  those  who  aim  to  supply  demands, 
with  the  very  best  articles  of  the  kind  obtainable,  that  are  asked  for 
and  needed  in  families. 
The  innovations  of  several  kinds  of  business,  as  grocers,  merchan- 
dise stores,  etc.,  of  keeping  so  many  articles  that  are  the  prerog- 
ative of  a  drug  store,  and  so  much  having  been  published  in  the 
journals  and  newspapers  of  the  day,  about  the  inferiority  and  the 
adulteration  of  spices  sold  in  open  market  by  manufacturers,  gro- 
cers, merchandise  stores,  etc.,  makes  now  an  opportune  time  for  us 
