STRAY ITEMS AND COMMENTS. Sergent-Pritchard.-Mr. Wilton Upson Sergent, Jr., and Miss Abigail Muriel Pritchard were married at McKeesport, Pa., November 28, 1907. The bride is a daughter of Mr. Benjamin E. Pritchard, the wellknown retail druggist, editor and ex-president of the N. A. R. D. Alexander Mactier Pirrie, of England, died recently, a martyr to science. He was, among other associations, interested in the Welcome Research Laboratories, at Khartoum, Africa. He was highly educated in science and recognized by the British Association for the Advancement of Science. George B. Sloan died at Louisville, Ky., December 2, of blood poisoning following an operation for appendicitis. He was thirty-seven years of age and leaves a wife and a young son. The deceased was well known in Indiana and Kentucky, as his father, the late Dr. George W. Sloan, was one of the early and most prominent pharmacists of Indianapolis. Lillie-Tyler.-Foress Ball Lillie, of Guthrie Oklahoma, and Miss Fannie V. Tyler, of Johnstown, Ohio, were married at the Jefferson Hotel, St. Louis, Mo., December 12, 1907. Mr. Lillie is a prominent citizen of the new State, a leading business man of Guthrie, and well known in pharmaceutical circles of this country. The wedding was a quiet affair, and after a few days in St. Louis Mr. and Mrs. Lillie returned to Guthrie. Fear. In the lexicon of finance there should be no such word as "fear." Prudence, caution, moderation, conservatism are safety brakes on the wheels of enterprise, but fear is the broken rail which throws the train off the track. Fear paralyzes enterprise, and produces panic. It is the only human emotion of which it can be said has no redeeming purpose. Even greed is constructive. It produces something. Fear never made two blades of grass grow where one grew before. Hatred is abhorrent, but even it is better than fear, because it may after all be directed against something that is wrong, but fear never helped a good cause or worked against an evil one. Fear has absolutely no place in the business world. Fear is almost criminal in a banker or any one who has the care of other people's money or property. Fear of poverty is harder to bear than poverty itself. Fear of failure never contributed to success. Fear never healed disease or cured an ill or reformed an abuse, or built a business or founded an empire or checked a trade reaction.-[Wall Street Journal. A Prescription to Be Deciphered.-We have received the following from the Benld Drug Co., Benld Ill., with the request that it be translated. We will be glad to hear from our readers with their interpretations of the prescription. illde принимаетр по докапель у ракана при поужное живота A. PH. A. New England Pharmacists and Physicians Break Bread Together.-The New England Branch of the A. Ph. A. held a successful meeting, December 5, with about seventy-five persons present. Half the number were physicians present as guests. After the dinner Pres. Packard called on the first speaker, J. F. Finneran, who had for his subject, The Relationship of the Physician and Pharmacist. Mr. Finneran spoke briefly on each of the many phases of the drug business, showing especially how the pharmacist and physician could be of the most value to each other. Pres. Packard next called on Dr. S. H. Ayer, of Boston, to take the physician's side of Mr. Finneran's subject. He jokingly remarked that his most enjoyable duty was helping his druggist close up his store at night. Dr. Ayer thought that the most amicable relations should exist between the two professions. The next speaker was Prof. Charles F. Nixon, of Leminster, who read a paper on Pepsin and its Preparations, being a summary of a large number of assays of pepsin and pepsin products. The pure pepsins of the market retain full power indefinitely as does the Glycerite of the National Formulary. The N. F. elixirs and essence are valuable digestants and being easily prepared when required can be dispensed in a condition impossible to attain in other ways. Prof. Nixon displayed tubes showing results of assays on egg albumen by the official process. Dr. Buck, of Boston, spoke about the necessity of druggists helping doctors in writing prescriptions, as pharmacy is ordinarily insufficiently taught in the medical colleges. He also commended the work of introducing the official preparations as a move in the right direction. The last speaker was Prof. E. H. La Pierre on Antiseptic Solutions. He clearly illustrated the fact that all classes of these were covered by official preparations. The Liq. Antisepticus and Liq. Antisepticus Alkalinus left nothing to be desired in their line. A large number of official products were passed around the tables after the dinner had been served. Comments on the National Formulary and U. S. P. occupied the principal attention of the Chicago Branch of the A. Ph. A., November 19. Mr. H. F. Schaper, of the Committee on Practice presented a partial report from the Chairman of the com:nittee, Mr. W. T. Klenze, discussing improvements in the formulas of several of the newer preparations, as follows: Liquor Cresolis Compositus, U. S. P.-The faults most generally found with the U. S. P. preparation are that it does not produce a clear mixture with water, that it varies too much in color, and that it may be too alkaline. made, contains unsaponified linseed oil which of course would cause a turbid mixture with water. The reason that all of the oil is not usually saponified is due possibly to the use of raw oil containing some "boiled" oil, i. e. a portion of the raw oil is changed by heat used in the process of extraction or by exposure to air. Therefore a pure fresh raw oil should be used. Saponification may be completed by heating the oil and potash solution instead of allowing them to remain cold. The principal difficulty with saponification is however due to the lack of water and if more water be added the desired result is quickly attained. In fact the U. S. P. formula provides for too much soap. If the quantity of alkali and oil provided for 1000 C. c. of finished product be used for making three pints of the preparation the difference being made up of equal parts of water and cresol so as to maintain 50% cresol, a very bright, handsome product results which is freely miscible with water. It was found by experience that cottonseed oil substituted for linseed oil in the U. S. P. formula saponified perfectly. Castor oil completely saponified almost immediately and the finished preparation could be made in five minutes. In the discussion which followed the committee's report on this preparation, Mr. F. W. Nitardy offered an improved formula in which saponification is completed by heat and the addition of a little alcohol. Mr. Nitardy showed samples of the U. S. P. preparation and the turbid appearance when mixed with water and of his improved preparation which caused no turpidity in water. The proposed formula is: Liquor Cresolis Compositus. Cresol. Cresol... Linseed Oil.. Potassium Hdyroxide.. Alcohol........ Compound Solution of Water, a sufficient quantity to make.. 500 Gm. 350 Gm. 80 Gm. 35 C. c. ..1000 Gm. Dissolve the Potassium Hydroxide in fifty Gm. of water in a tarred dish, add the Linseed Oil and mix thoroughly. Heat on a water bath or on a steam bath to about 70° C., incorporate the Alcohol, and continue heating until saponification is complete. Then add the Cresol, stir well, cover the vessel and allow to stand, stirring occasionally until a clear solution is produced, finally add sufficient water to make the finished product weight one thousand Gm. Mr. S. K. Sass added 30% of the water to the soap of the official formula and then 30% additional of cresol. This gave a clear preparation perfectly miscible with water. Elixir Ferri, Quininae et Strychninae Phosphatum, U. S. P. -The principal fault with the U. S. P. preparation is its change of color on keeping and the difficulty of its preparation without the formation of a precipitate. The change in color appears to be due to impurities in the iron salt. It is recommended that the iron phosphate be freshly made from solutions of iron cit It is found that the U. S. P. preparation, as ordinarily rate and sodium phosphate. Then precipitate the quinine from quinine sulphate by ammonia water and dissolve it in the iron solution. By these methods a clear green elixir may be made and the color will remain indefinitely. Prof. Miner stated that in order to prevent the formation of a precipitate he dilutes the phosphoric acid with some aromatic elixir before adding it to the alcoholic solution of the alkaloids. A clear preparation of green color results, but the color will not last. Liquor Ferri Peptonati Et Mangano.-The principal difficulty with this preparation is the inability to secure a good iron albuminate and a soluble manganese citrate in the Chicago market. It is recommended that fresh iron albuminate be prepared from fresh egg albumin, peptonized, and precipitated with iron. A soluble crystalline manganese citrate was obtained from Mallinckrodt of St. Louis. Distilled water, a sufficient quantity to make. 1000.00 C. c. Dissolve the citric acid in 100 C. c. of water in a capacious vessel, add the Phosphoric Acid, then gradually the Magnesium and Calcium Carbonate and Potassium Bicarbonate, when effervescence has nearly ceased, warm the solution gently until all is dissolved and the Carbon Dioxide expelled. Make a solution of the Quinine Hydrochloride and the Strychnine Sulphate in the Orange Flower Water, dissolve the soluble Ferric Phosphate in 100 C.c. of hot water and add these solutions to the first, mix well, filter and add enongh water through the filter to make the filtrate measure 470 C. c. Then add the Sugar. Shake the mixture until the Sugar is dissolved, add the glycerin and enough distilled water to make 1000 C. c., strain if necessary. It will be noticed that no change is made in the ingredients except the amount of sugar is reduced, but that the working directions are materially changed. Prof. Harrison recommended that a definite percentage of iron and manganese be required in the preparation. Manganese citrate was obtained with difficulty from the Chicago drug jobbers though finally four samples were had. These were Manganese Sodium Citrate assaying 14% of manganese, Manganese Ammonium Citrate assaying 18%, Manganese Sodium Citrate, Merck, assaying 10%, all of the above being fairly soluble in water and a normal Manganese Citrate in powder insoluble in water and assaying 23%. The Iron albuminate of the market assayed from 25% to 28% of iron but often was objectionable because of the strong disagreeable odor. Prof. Harrison suggested that Manganese chloride which can be easily obtained in the open market be used in solution with a solution of Ammonium Citrate of Sodium Citrate to form the Manganese Citrate. The resulting decomposition will yield also a little Ammonium or Sodium chloride which would relieve the flat taste of the present preparation. | precipitate forms which requires so much heat to dis Elixir Gentianae Glycerinata, N. F.-The faults of the N. F. preparation appear to be the use of too much saccharin and too little acetic ether. The committee suggested the use of less saccharin and the substitution of Jamaica Rum for the Acetic Ether. Prof. Hallberg objected to the use of Jamaica Rum as it was not an article of definite standard strength, not being recognized in the U. S. P. or N. F. He, however, agreed with the objection to the saccharin. Liquor Sodii Phosphatis Compositus, U. S. P.-The principal trouble had with this preparation is the inability to get the ingredients all into solution and to prevent a subsequent precipitation. The Committee suggested that if all the ingredients be put into a bottle in a fairly warm place over night a perfect solution would result with no subsequent precipitation. Syrupus Hydrochlorphosphatum, N. F.-F. W. Nitardy presented an improved formula for this preparation which is as follows: | Mr. Nitardy stated that he found it impossible to prepare this Syrup according to the N. F. directions. In the mixture of phosphoric acid and water the citric acid would not dissolve, at least not without heat. By dissolving the citric acid in the water alone solution is easily accomplished and the phosphoric acid may then be added. The carbon dioxide formed by the reaction between the acids and carbonates saturates the liquid and causes trouble by slight effervescence during the remainder of the process. This gas can be driven off by gently heating the preparation at this point. If the alkaloidal salts and the soluble ferric phosphate are placed for solution in the orange flower water a solve it that the flavor of the orange flower water is mostly lost. This precipitation can be prevented by dissolving the alkaloidal salts only in the orange flower water and the soluble ferric phosphate in a small quantity of hot water and adding these solutions to the first one. Filtiration should not be left until after the glycerin and sugar are added, because then it is almost impossible to filter the syrup except by the aid of heat which materially changes the preparation. Therefore the mixed solution should be filtered at this point and as much water should be added as possible so that the addition of the glycerin and sugar will make nearly the 1,000 C. c. It is found that enough water to make the filtrate measure 470 C. c. can be added. The N. F. formula provides for at least 100 Gm. more sugar than can be dissolved cold. Also the sugar should be dissolved before the glycerin is added. The syrup under the improved formula is easily and quickly made and presented an elegant appearance. First Autoist-Smithson takes his whole family with him now every time he goes out in his automobile. Second Autoist-I reckon he's afraid if he didn't he might run over some of them by mistake. NEW REMEDIES. A committee of the New York State Ph. A., consisting of Thos. J. Keenan, Willis P. Gregory and Geo. C. Diekman, submitted the following at the 1907 meeting: New Serums.-A number of serums made their appearance and the method of treating infectious diseases or diseases due to the invasion of bacteria, by the use of antitoxine serums has been greatly improved. However, pharmacists have not benefited to any extent by the sale of serum products, as in many munici very accidental manner. As described by Dr. Hugo Schweitzer in a paper read before the students of the College of Pharmacy of Columbia University and published in the American Druggist for April, 1907, the German Government made it compulsory at one time to add phenolphthalein to oleomargarine in order to make it possible to distinguish oleomargarine from butter, subsequent treatment with an alkali serving to bring out the characteristic pink color. The Austrian Government adopted a similar method of identifying second-class wines obtained from grape juice refuse after the first fermentation. It was soon discovered that persons who drank this wine suffered from palities the serums are supplied free of cost by the city diarrhoea, lasting as long as they partook of it. It authorities. The Opsonins and the Opsonic Index. The discovery of Prof. A. E. Wright of certain constituents of the blood-serum, which he has named opsonins, seems to be of great importance. According to Professor Wright there are opsonins corresponding to the different infectious diseases. The word opsonin is derived from the Greek word opsoneo, meaning "I prepare for food," since the opsonins act like a sauce or condiment and prepare the invading microbe for consumption by the white blood corpuscles of phagocytes. The amount of any particular opsonin in the blood is ascertained by what is called the "opsonic index." This index is determined by ascertaining the number of bacteria engulfed or devoured by the leucocytes of the sick person as compared with the number devoured by those of a normal healthy man. Thus in a case where the opsonic index of an individual toward a particular disease is given as 0.6, it means that where the normal man's blood could dispose of 100 microbes that of the subject could only devour 60. The therapeutic application of Professor Wright's discovery is carried out by the injection into the system of the patient of minute quantities of dead microbic material of the same bacteria that caused the disease. This increases the opsonic index, enables the white or scavenger blood corpuscles to devour the invading microbes of disease and leaves the patient free to recover, by the normal healthy action of the system. New Antiseptics and Disinfectants.-In the field of antiseptics and disinfectants much activity has been displayed during the year, and formaldehyde has been made use of in various forms, the latest method being to incorporate paraform with an alkali peroxide (barium peroxide, 2 parts; paraform 1 part). The mere ad dition of water to such a mixture liberates formaldehyde in the gaseous state, and when sufficient of the gas has been liberated and disinfection is complete, a portion of a mixture of ammonium chloride and lime is added to the moistened mass, when ammonia is set free, which combines with the formaldehyde to form hexamethy-lenamine, overcoming in this way the pungent fumes of the formaldehyde. Phenolpthalein Laxatives.-The number of laxative preparations which depend for their activity on phenolphthalein shows an increase. The discovery of the laxative principle of phenolphthalein was made in a then occurred to a physician to test phenolphthalein clinically as to its purgative action, and the fact was established that in even small doses it acted as a cathartic. Now this indicator, so long used in chem istry, has been introduced into medicine under a variety of names, including purgen, alophen, laxiconfect, etc. The discovery has incited chemists to continued work along this line and a great improvement has resulted in the laxative remedies in present use. Alphabetical List of Remedies. Acidol Pepsin is a preparation of betaine hydrochloride (asidol) and pepsin in the form of pastils containing acidol 0.05; pepsin, 0.2; sugar of milk, 0.25. The pastils are used in place of acidol when the effect of pepsin is desired. The acidol contained in each pastil corresponds to about eight drops of dilute hydrochloride acid. A weaker tablet (Tablet 11) is also put up. Anisotheobromine is theobromine sodium anisate containing 47.87 per cent of theobromine. It is not so soluble in water as diuretin and is accordingly less easily attacked by the carbonic acid of the air and has better keeping properties. It is marketed by Aba Sxtankay, Bath, Hungary. Anorrhal are suppositories of gelatin containing in each sozoiodol sodium, 0.02 Gm.; alumnol, 0.0024 Gm.; distilled witch hazel, 0.5 Gm.; suprarenal extract 0.002 Gm.; zinc oxide, 0.4 Gm. They are intended for the treatment of hemorrhoids. Anti-Lead Soap has been proposed for use by painters and workers in lead who are exposed to the danger of lead poisoning. It is a liquid potash soap saturated with hydrogen sulphide. By its use the workmen can determine through the well-known reaction whether or not their hands are freed from the last traces of lead. Antivom is the name applied to tablets of anæsthesin, used for the treatment of nervous dyspepsia, ulcers of the stomach, vomiting, the vomiting of pregnancy, seasickness and after chloroform narcosis. Manufactured by E. Ritsert, Frankfort-on-Main, Germany. Armadiphtherin is the name given to a glycerin extract of Dichondra brevifolia, a plant described in a previous report. Armadiphtherin is applied locally in diphtheria, in which disease it is asserted to be an antidote. Aspirothen is the brand name of an alleged amidophenacetin acetylsalicylate. Asserted to be a chemical combination of acetylsalicylic acid with amidoacetparaphenetidin, the last named being the chemical term for phenocoll, it has been found on examination by F. Zernik to be a mixture in molecular proportions of free salicylic acid and monoacetylphenocoll. It is recommended in the treatment of rheumatism of the muscles and joints, both acute and chronic, neuralgia, gout, influenza and sick headache in doses of fifteen grains three or four times daily. Manufactured by the Falkenberg Chemical Company, Berlin, Germany. Autan is a powder formaldehyde compound intended for use as a disinfectant made by mixing two parts of barium peroxide with one part of paraformaldehyde. The principle of its usefulness as a disinfectant depends on the fact that all alkaline peroxides in the presence of water are capable of converting paraformaldehyde into formaldehyde. For use an amount of autan corresponding with the size of the room is put into an appropriate vessel and the prescribed quantity of water added. On the addition of the water formaldehyde vapor is liberated immediately. An "ammonia developer," supplied with the powder, and consisting of a mixture of ammonium chloride and lime, to which water is added, is used to stop the action of the autan when disinfection is completed. It is stated that 50 Gm. of autan is sufficient to destroy all organisms in a cubic metre of air. The process of manufacture has been patented in Germany by Farbenfabriken vorm. Friedr, Bayer, Elberfeld, Germany. the acid radical of the bismuth salt. It has been recommended for use in the treatment of chronic intestinal catarrh and as an application in moist eczemas. Marketed by the Heyden Chemical Works, New York. Bismuth Disalicylate obtained by the decomposition of a solution of a normal bismuth salt with a normal salicylate, the base of which forms soluble salts with the acid of the bismuth salt. It forms a fine, white, tasteless powder, having a faint sweetish after-taste. Its solutions in water give a violet color reaction with ferric chloride. It contains 48 to 50 per cent. of bismuth oxide and 50 to 52 per cent. of salicylic acid. It is employed as an intestinal astringent and antizymotic. Average dose: 12 grains, one to four times daily. Marketed by the Heyden Chemical Works, New York. Blaudium is the name given to an iron carbonate preparation for which a German patent has been issued. It is said to be a very pure ferrous carbonate prepared by the interaction of ferrous sulphate and potassium or sodium carbonate in aqueous solution in presence of glycerin or sugar, the precipitate being freed from water by centrifugal action. Made by A. Flügge, Berlin, Germany. Borovertin is a yellowish-white, bitter-tasting powder. forming a compound of hexamethylenamine and boric acid, which is supposed to combine the properties of the two substances. By its use the flow of urine is said to be considerably increased, and it converts alkaline urine into acid urine, besides having the property Betacaine is the simpler form adopted in English of dissolving uric acid. It is given in tablets containpublications for the term betaeucaine. Betasulphopyrine is a compound of sulphanilic acid. and antipyrine, which has been recommended as a specific in iodism and as a remedy in coryza and colds generally. It forms a powder of sourish taste that is easily soluble in warm water. Dose: Gm. 1, two or three times a day. Bioglobin is the name given to a preparation of hæmoglobin, which, it is asserted, is different from many others on the market, in being a vinous beverage. It is protected by German patent, the specifications of which read in translation as follows: Dissolve 5 Kg. of a fresh solution of hæmoglobin extract, containing 33 per cent. of hæmoglobin, in 75 Kg. of lukewarm water, and to this add 20 Kg. sugar and 1 Kg. of finely cut Sultana raisins. Transfer the mixture to a large glass vessel covered with perforated parchment paper and allow to stand three days at a temperature of thirty-five degrees Reaumur (111 F). Then pass through a hair sieve into a larger vessel and add tartaric acid 50 Gm., water 1,000 Gm. and alcohol 10 Gm. Allow the whole to stand for one day and then bottle. Manufactured by the Bioglobin Company, Schöneberg, near Berlin, Germany. Bismuth Ditannate is a bright yellow powder of a slightly bitter, acid taste, made by adding to a solution of a bismuth salt a solution of any tannate whose base is capable of forming a soluble compound with ing 1 to 4 grains. Bromural belongs to the valeric acid group, being alphamono-brom-iso-valerianyl urea. It is used as a sedative and hypnotic. It is a white tasteless substance of crystalline needle appearance, soluble in hot water, ether, alkaline solutions and alcohol, but is only very slightly soluble in cold water. It has been found beneficial in the insomnia following pneumonia, dyspepsia and whooping cough. In doses of one to two tablets each containing 0.3 Gm. sleep is produced in from five to twenty-five minutes; higher doses work more quickly and energetically. The sleep induced by it resembles natural sleep in that it is free from dreams, does not exceed the normal duration and leaves the patient feeling clear and fresh on awakening. Made and marketed by Knoll & Company. Cacaosin is the name of a substitute for the theobroma oil, the composition of which is not revealed by the German manufacturers. Castor Oil Powder, which has been introduced into medicine under various fancy names, is made by various processes, such as mixing the oil with gum acacia and magnesia, evaporating and drying; or by precipitating the casein of milk, pressing it and adding sodium carbonate, lactose and castor oil, drying and pulverizing. A dry powder possessing the properties of castor oil may thus be obtained. (To be continued.) |