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PUBLIC EXPRESSIONS.

Read This Before You Write.

Contributions on subjects of interest to the pharmaceutical profession are always welcome. Write upon but one side of the sheet and spell out in full the names of medicines; never use abbreviations. The editor pays no attention to anonymous communications.

A Catchy Window.-Last Spring I put in a house cleaning window, showing a variety of useful house cleaning helps, including a line of varnish stains, paint brushes and furniture polish. In the center of the window I placed an old chair, and leaning it on about a 45° angle, sawed it off about four inches from the top. The main part of the chair is now placed against the inside of the glass, fitting snugly, the piece is now glued on the outside of the window to make it look like it extends through the glass.

Then take some pieces of plate glass and stick on the inside of the window with library paste, and with a small lettering brush draw fine green lines like cracks in the glass from the chair almost across the glass, have them sprangle out as naturally as possible. Then throw a few pieces of plate glass on the sidewalk near the window. You will be surprised how realistic this will look, and scarcely any one will pass without noticing it. Our landlord passed and thought the window was broken. He came in and asked how it happened. We told him one of the boys stood on the chair to wind the clock and it tipped over, and we concluded as it had happened we would use it for a display. He said it was a very careless trick and went away. In about half an hour he returned with the insurance adjuster.

Of course it was on him and the papers got hold of it. One of our daily papers sent their photographer down and got a picture of it.-[E. H. MOFFET, St. Joseph, Mo.

As an Offset to the Many Inconveniences Loaded Upon the Drug Trade by the Pure Food and Drug Acts, I am permitted by my townsman, Geo. B. Stew art, the assistant United States Attorney of the First District of Iowa, to first announce through the pharmaceutical press that Mr. Sears of the firm of Sears, Roebuck & Co,, of Chicago, declared that he would cut out the sale and listing of all proprietary or patent medicines in all of their departments and has given written orders accordingly.

This, in my opinion, is a natural sequence to pure food and drug laws and is a proper recognition of the fact that it takes more permanently established expert salesmen to handle these goods in conformity with the law. This will have a tendency to reduce or concentrate the number of drug stores, groceries and seed stores, and in the "survival of the fittest" may be seen a hopeful future for deserving registered pharmacists upon whom the practical application of the drug features of the law rests, and upon whom the principal burden of the law has fallen.

Regardless of the causes that moved Mr. Sears to such action it is creditable to his business acumen, and will be to the heads of other department stores, who will sooner or later free themselves from this responsibility, by cutting out of their stock, the sale of all medicinal preparations, thus leaving it in the hands of those most capable to handle the same in strict accordance with the many complicated laws.

Such practical results were anticipated by the amended Iowa pharmacy law of 1886:

Section 8. Pharmacists whose certificates of registration are in full force and effect, shall have the sole right to keep and to sell under such regulations as have been or may he established from time to time by the commissioners of pharmacy, all medicines and poisons, including intoxicating liquors only for the actual necessitie of medicines; provided, that such pharmacists shall have procured permits therefor as hereinafter prescribed,

etc.

Had this law not been vitiated by political prohibitionists assuming to amend the pharmaco-liquor law, while wily extremists on the other hand were doing all they could to complicate and defeat real temperance legislation, the drug fraternity of the United States would to-day have had the experience of a more practical administration of "regulating the sale of liquors for the actual necessity of medicines," thus receiving the benefits of the recent wave of public sentiment in favor of temperance legislation.

While the real public sentiment of Iowans on the temperance question has been compromised and used as a shuttlecock by partisan politicians of all parties for many years, the present year's new primary election law gives promise that Iowa will be freed from such dominant party spirit, as to prevent rational action on living questions of the day. This will enable Iowa to renew her proud record of having taken advance steps for the solution of the temperance question, which cannot be settled permanently until it is settled temperately and scientifically.-[GEO. H. SCHAFER, Fort Madison, Ia.

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PETRIFIED FISH EYES.

BY H. D. MORGAN, PH. C.

Chemistry Among Curios, or How the Crystalline Lens of a Fish's Eye Was Formaldehyded.

While the name "petrified fish eyes" will not hold good according to Dr. H. W. Wiley, yet as these fractional orbs of vision are neither food nor drugs we will consider them under their somewhat misbranded label.

H. D. MORGAN, PH. C.

What are they? And what are they good for?

A "Petrified Fisheye" is a marble sized and shaped bit of transparent albumen that has been treated with formaldehyde and subsequently dried.

They are good for nothing other than a curio. They are decidedly unique as a souvenir of a person's first catch of game fish.

Perhaps a bit of explanation and history might be of interest. Some five years ago the writer became associated with a pharmacy located in a famous fishing resort where game fish weighing from seventeen pounds to 450 pounds are caught every day. It was noticed that at the season when business was dullest, large numbers of a species of mackeral known as Albacore or Longfin Tuna were caught. This fish has great power of sight due to the large spherical crystalline lens he possesses. Fishermen would often remove the lens by cutting close to the dark line of the "pupil." By pressing on either side would pop out a most beautiful jellylike marble shaped mass as transparent as the purest water reflecting the rays of light as does a drop of dew. The writer once heard it said, "Isn't it too bad these can't be kept in this condition." Then, with the "Yankee eye to business," experiments were begun. Upon inquiry it was found that one or two persons had tried the same trick but with a result that could scarcely be called a success as the eyes lost their brilliancy and soon cracked.

A few experiments proved the substance of the eye to be albumen in a pure state. With the chemist's knowledge of the action of formaldehyde on albumen it was known where to begin. After many experiments were carried on and many failures recorded it was found that the solution must not be too strong as the concentrated solution caused too rapid an action on the albumen and coagulated the mass so that it became hard at once and as soon as an eye was taken out of the solution it would peel off and remain milky instead of clearing up. If too weak a solution was used only the outside of the lens would become hard and the center would afterwards shrink and cause the orb to become lopsided.

A two per cent solution of absolute (H.COH) formaldehyde was found to answer all purposes. But it was also found after getting the "eye" to this stage there was shrinkage; that they became yellow and ugly in time so the idea struck "someone" why not draw off most of the water before they are exposed to to the air to dry? Again this "yankee idea," make it something else to sell. So alcohol was chosen.

We succeeded first in selling the solution with the direction for "petrifying" then we sold them the alcohol to dehydrate the eyes.

These directions are given: "Keep the eye in this solution for twelve days then pour off the solution and cover the eyes with alcohol for five days. Now dry the eyes in a cool shady place for five days when the eyes will become hard."

It might surprise the reader to know that it "took" and today ask the majority of "anglers" who come to our island and they'll tell you of the "chemical curio." It made a hit, a decided hit. We color the eyes any desired color by adding a solution of any anilin dye to the formaldehyde solution and proceed as though it wasn't there. By so doing we have some very beautifully colored specimens.

The action of this H.COH near as we have been able to determine is

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Albumen H.COH=Horn.

Horn being an oxidation product of albumen. These eyes can be broken into pieces having a smooth, glassy fracture and yet if you take a knife you can peel off layer after layer showing that the crystalline lens is composed of thin tissues one upon the other.

The eyes are sufficiently hard to be thrown upon the cement pavement many times before breaking.

When first taken out and dried little fibres will be found on the "sides" showing where they were fastened to the eye proper. These may easily be removed with a knife blade.

We have mounted sets of eyes to show their beauty in gold and silver mountings forming tie pins, hat pins, watch fobs, etc. They are decidedly a curiosity. They remind us more of assorted Jujubes or fruit drops than what they really are.

When Prof. J. P. Remington was shown the "eyes" he was suprised to know their origin and he was well pleased with their novelty.

The eyes of any kind of fish can be used.

My tip to the pharmacist in the fishing resort is, "Go thou and do likewise" or "Come unto me and I will" show you.

The Following Words are said to have found a place for many years in the late Dr. Cade's surgery, Spondon, Derby, England:

"Brandy, beer and betting,
Domestic care and fretting
Will kill the strongest man alive;
But water, air and diet,

Domestic peace and quiet

Will make the weakest man to thrive."

QUIZ DEPARTMENT.

Read This Before You Ask a Question.

Many questions are thrown in the waste basket each month on account of the correspondents failing to give name and address. The editor has a large basket for such questions. Write questions on separate sheets and on but one side of the paper. No questions will be answered by mail. Spell out in full every word; never abbreviate the names of medicines.

Missouri Liquor Law and Veterinary Surgeons (56).—As far as we can judge, veterinary surgeons have no priviliges over and above those of other citizens in purchasing alcoholic liquors where local option or prohibition is in force.

Denatured Alcohol Permits Continuous (57).—Like the certificates of registration as pharmacist in Missouri, the denatured alcohol permits continue as long as the individual lives unless previously surrendered or cancelled for cause. There is no charge made for the denatured alcohol permit.

Only Pharmacists Are Eligible (58) for the Illinois board examination. The fact that you have graduated from a medical college does not ensure your being posted as a pharmacist, and in the state of Illinois where you desire to register it is necessary to show evidence of drug store experience before taking the examination.

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Water, a sufficient quantity. Alcoholic solution of chlorophyl, to color. Heat the olive oil in a deep capacious vessel, on a water-bath or steam-bath, to a temperature of about 70° C. (158° F.) Dissolve the Potassium Hydroxide in four hundred and fifty cubic centimeters of water, warm the solution to about 70° (158° F.), add it to the Olive Oil, and mix thoroughly; then incorporate the Alcohol and continue the heat (without stirring) until a small portion of the mixture is found to be soluble in boiling water without the separation of oily drops. Then allow the mixture to cool, and transfer it to suitable vessels.

The Potassium Hydroxide used in this process should be of the full strength directed by the Pharmacopoeia (85 per cent). Potassium Hydroxide of any other strength, however, may be used if a proportionately larger or smaller quantity be taken, the proper amount for the above formula being ascertained by dividing 8075 by the percentage of absolute Potassium Hydroxide contained therein.

To Clean Bottles (63) is a problem which is solved in various ways in different stores. Judging from Pharmacy Laws of all the States (59).—It is quite always satisfactorily solved. We have published in bottles we sometimes find in use the problem is not

out of the question for us to furnish you such a list. We suggest that you write to the Secretary of State at the capital of each state and ask for a copy of the law.

The A. Ph. A. has published reviews on pharmacy legislation which may prove of interest. You will find such information in the annual proceedings of that association.

Elder Blow Tea (60).—You are mistaken in thinking that this is an infusion or a decoction. This is a common name for the flowers of the elder shrub (Sambucus nigro). In many sections of the country, the laity gather the flowers at the proper season in the spring and dry them for use during the year. We suggest that you dispense the flowers which you can obtain in the drug trade in the pressed form. The word "blow" is a common term in the country when referring to flowers.

Missouri Liquor Law (61).—Will you kindly publish Missouri Law in regard to sale of alcohol to be used for medicinal use, such as rubbing or preparing various lotions for external use. Has a retail druggist the right to sell same without being afraid of violating the laws of this state, even that he has a U. S. R. D. L. license issued by the Revenue Office allowing him to sell same?

Answer. See section 3047 of Missouri Pharmacy Law in the June 1908, issue of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST.

Green Soap (62).-The liquid green soap of the market seems to be colored artificially, as it fades in

previous issues of the MEYer Brothers DRUGGIST different formulas for the purpose and now copy the following from Prescription Practice and General Dispensing, by Beal:

"New bottles are best cleaned by immersing them in a vessel of warm water, and rinsing them out one by one, being careful to remove every particle of the straw or chaff used in the packing. After draining, they should be placed in drawers to keep them free from dust.

"Most prescription vials are made of soft soda glass, and many of them will yield sufficient alkali to cause the precipitation of alkaloids from their solutions. This may be prevented by rinsing the bottles with dilute hydrochloric acid, following with a thorough rinsing in water.

To cleanse an accumulation of bottles which have been used, proceed as follows:

1. Fill the bottles with warm water and allow them to soak fo wenty-four hours, empty and rinse.

2. If they are still dirty, fill them with a warm solution of sal soda (commercial sodium carbonate) or a weak solution of con

centrated lye, and allow to stand for twenty-four hours. Empty, rinse and drain. This treatment removes animal and vegetable oils and fats, and resinous substances.

3. If the bottles have contained mineral oils, follow the last treatment by drying and washing with petroleum benzin, dry and rinse in warm soap suds and clear warm water.

4. If the bottles are still insufficiently cleaned, each should be half filled with warm water, about two ounces of No. 60 shot added, and thoroughly shaken. After removal of the shot, they should be rinsed with some diluted nitric acid to dissolve any lead removed from the shot, and then rinsed with warm water.

Manganese stains may be removed from mortars, and other utensils, by means of a little dilute sulphuric acid, and a small portion of oxalic acid.

WHITE LEAD.

A New Process for the Manufacturing of White Lead. We are certainly living in a rapid age with our steam power, electric motors, telegraphs, telephones and modern means of saving time. Our parents told us of the days when it required seven years to tan a piece of leather. The process is now accomplished much more satisfactory in a few hours time. Pharmacists who have received college training remember the details of the Dutch process for the manufacturing of white lead. No doubt, this process will continue to be taught students for years to come, as it requires time to eliminate the obsolete information which appears in text-books, but W. H. Rowley, of Detroit, Mich., has devised a new process and invented new machinery which cuts the time down from one hundred and twenty-five days to a single week in making white lead from pig lead. Not only is time saved, but all of the metallic lead is converted into lead carbonate. The process is carried on under conditions which prevent danger from lead poisoning, and the workmen should be free from that disease. Large manufacturers are already adopting the process, and the time will come when it will be the only method of making white lead.

In the old process in vogue until the new one was completed, the metallic lead was cast into perforated discs. These discs were packed into earthern pots or retorts, flooded with acetic acid. About eighteen pounds of lead was put into each pot. These pots were arranged in layers piled one upon the other with boards between each layer and each layer resting on several inches of ground tan bark, which was also placed around the edges of the pots, which were allowed to remain buried in tan bark for from ninety to one hundred and twenty days while chemical action caused by the heat of the fermenting tan bark and the acid slowly converted the metallic lead into the white lead used for paint. The corrosion was never complete and anywhere from sixty-five to eighty-five per cent of the metallic lead only was converted into the finished product. Being hard and brittle it was ground and then floated and pumped to the drying pans of copper. It necessitated the employment of forty men for every stack of pots.

It is by force of contrast the full significance of the new or "mild process" is brought home, and it is then realized that the invention will revolutionize the manufacture of white lead the world over.

We learn from a Detroit daily paper that in the new process nothing but steam, water and carbon dioxide gas are used, resulting in bringing to the drying pans in finished product, 125 pounds of white lead for every 100 pounds of metallic lead placed in the starting furnace. During every ten hours the plant is in operation 100,000 pounds of metallic lead is melted, passing from the bottom of the furnace into a very hot, steam filled tank, where it becomes a soft blue sub

stance, as thin as thin mud, and in this state very susceptible to chemical change. From there it goes to large metallic duplex cylinders where it is kept continually agitated with water in the presence of air which is forced through the cylinders at low pressure. The product is then an orange, or ochre color. This part of the operation is complete in less than two days. The product is then passed through a separating system which removes any slight metallic residue and is then pumped into the carbonating cylinders, somewhat similar to the cylinders already described.

In the last cylinders the basic hydroxides of lead, as they are called, in the presence of a considerable amount of water are subjected to a current of carbon dioxide gas, which in less than two hours converts the hydroxides into white lead, which, containing nó impurities, is ready to pump into the drying pans without any washing or separating whatever. The finished product of purest white lead was seen laying in the drying beds of canvas stretched upon cots of wires with shallow pans beneath to catch the moisture that filters through. The fact of the lead being free from impurities renders the expensive copper drying pans unnecessary. The finished product never grows hard and that part destined for commercial use is passed on to the grinding mill where it is mixed with oil into the paste form seen in the can when bought from the hardware stores.

Collecting The Venom From a Lancehead Snake.There was recently performed in the reptile house of the New York Zoological Park the curious operation of extracting venom from a lancehead snake for medical purposes. The snake in question is known to zooloin the treatment of insanity and infectious diseases. gists as Lachesis triganocephalos. Its venom is used Because it must be collected from a living snake, it is extremely valuable. Most of the venom thus far used was obtained as far back as 1828 by Dr. Hering, who collected it from a snake in the upper waters of the Amazon. Small as Dr. Hering's supply was, it was ample for the world's needs until the present day.

In gathering the new supply of venom, the lancehead snake of the New York Zoological Park was held by two keepers back of the jaws and near the end of the tail with forked sticks. It was then grasped by Dr. Ditmars, of the Zoological Park staff, who held in front of it a glass beaker over which was stretched a fine piece of gauze. The snake struck at the gauze, pierced it, and projected a drop of poison, which was caught in the glass. Three times was the serpent allowed to strike. The venom obtained was a yellowish liquid weighing 173 grains. This was mixed with 99 parts of sugar and water to every 1 part of poison, and pounded in a mortar until the whole was reduced to a white powder. One dose of the poison as prepared for medical use consists of less than one-millionth of a grain. It is asserted that the 17 grains collected will last the world half a century. The Scientific American hopes to publish soon an illustrated article on the collection and use of the venom.

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1. Factitious, Pissasphaltum, made of Bitumen and Pitch. 2. Flesh of a Carcase dried by the Sun, in the Country of the Hammonians, between Cyrene and Alexandria, being Passengers buried in the Quicksands. 3. Egyptian, a Liquor sweating from carcases embalmed with Pissasphaltum. 4. Arabian, a Liquor, which sweats from Carcases embalmed with Myrrh, Aloes and Balsam. 5. Artificial, which is Modern. Of all which, the two last are the best, but the Arabian is scarcely to be got; the second and third sorts are sold for it:

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digest this Quintessence with Treacle and Musk to an Elixir.

It has all the Virtues of the Tincture, besides which, this is more speedy in the cure of the Plague. 25. Balsamum Mumiæ, Balsam of Mummy.

R Artificial Mummy cut small, digest it forty Days with Oil Olive in a luted Vessel; put it in a Glass Body, and in B. M. let the fœtid Scent exhale, till the Mummy is dissolved; digest it twenty Days or more with S. V. which separate, and you have a sweet scented red Oil. This Oil is exalted by Digestion with S. V. and drawing of it off four or five times, where note that Quercetan uses fresh Flesh instead of Artificial Mummy. This Balsam, Quercetan says, has all the Properties of the natural Balsam of Syria, and the Virtues of the Tincture and Elixir of Mummy; being exalted, it has such a piercing quality, that it pierceth all parts, restores wasted Limbs, Consumptions, Hecticks, and cures all Ulcers and Corruptions, if gr. iv, v, or vi, be given twice every Day in a proper vehicle.

26. Aqua Divina, Divine Water.

Take the whole Carcase of a Man violently killed, with the Intrails, cut it in pieces and mix them; distil it from a Retort twice or thrice.

It is reported to have a magnetick Power, if to 3 i. of this Water, you put a few Drops of the Blood of a

22. Mumia Artificials, Artificial or Modern Mummery, sick Person, and set them on the Fire, and they mix, according to Crollins.

Take the Carcase of a young Man, (some say red hair'd) not dying of a Disease, but killed; let it lie 24 Hours in clear Water in the Air, cut the Flesh in pieces, to which add Pouder of Myrrh, and a little Aloes: Imbibe it 24 Hours in the Spirit of Wine and Turpentine, take it out, hang it up twelve Hours; imbibe it again 24 Hours in fresh Spirit, then hang up the pieces in a dry Air, and a shady place, so will they dry and not stink.

23. Tinctura Mumiæ, Tincture or Extract of Mummy. Take Arabian or Ægyptian Mummy, extract it with Spirit of Wine or Turpentine, and separate to the consistence of Honey, so have you Quercetian's Extract. But Crollins advises to take the Artificial Mummy, and make an Extract in Spirit of Wine or Elder only. It is a Counter-poison, prevents the Plague, and resists all manner of Infection, being taken only to i. and cures being taken to 3 i. or 3 iss. It has all the Virtues of Mummy, at sect. 21. Of this Crollins makes a Treacle thus. Take of this Tincture lb. ss. Venice Treacle 3 iv. Salt of Pearl and Coral, ana 3 ii. Terra sigillata 3 ii. Musk 3 i. mix and digest them in a gentle heat for a Month.

24. Elixir Mumiæ, Elixir of Mummy.

Take Artificial Mummy cut small, to which put Sp. of Turpentine, putrify it 40 Days in a Vessel close luted, strain it, and put into a Bladder with S. V. digest, and in an Alembick in Sand, draw off the Quintessence with the Spirit, which separate; the Faces reverberate, and sublime to a Salt, which unite with the separated Quintessence by Circulation; then

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the Sick recovers; if not the Sick dies for want of Blood, take the Urine in a larger quantity.

27. Adeps, Grease or Fat. It is Emollient, Discutient, Anodyne, and Cosmetick; it is said to fill up the Pits after the Small Pox: Mixt with the Spirit of Vitriol, it becomes a clammy Liniment, which pierces much, and is useful against the Gout, contracted Sinews, and driness of the Parts.

(To be continued.)

Germany in the Mediterranean.-Consul-General Guenther reports that according to consular and business reports German shipping in the western part of the Mediteranean is increasing. French business men especially complain of the successful competition of the Germans and the lack of enterprise on part of the French shipowners. The chamber of commerce of Marseille stated recently that German competition is becoming more and more felt also on the French coast of the Mediterranean. The North German Lloyd, by establishing a steamer line between Marseille and Egypt, almost monopolizes the tourists' travel to Egypt, and the season trips of the Hamburg-American line between the French and Italian Riviera furnish new proof for the enterprise of German shipowners. Between Nice and Genoa, and between Naples and Capri, the German lines, as far as passenger traffic is concerned, have almost a monopoly, because their vessels are far superior to the French and Italian ships. At Naples the traffic of German vessels is larger than that of England, and in Genoa the German flag closely follows that of England.

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