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Editorial

in the course of time, as the manufacturers and jobbers are educated up to Pharmacopoeial and National Formulary nomenclature. Our comments (MEYER Brothers DruUGGIST, September, 1908, page 268) on this subject have attracted considerable attention. We urge our readers to cooperate in bringing the subject to the attention of all who have occasion to label medi

cines.

The department of the U. S. government which has in charge the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act sometimes sets a poor example for pharmacy students and prospective board of pharmacy candidates by using old and what should be obsolete terms for official

United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service to Render Pharmacy Substantial Aid. Beginning with the semi-centennial meeting of the A. Ph. A. at Philadelphia in 1902, this branch of the government has been annually represented at the A. Ph. A. gatherings by official delegates. A. M. Roehrig, the senior pharmacist of the service has as representative of the department, year after year, called the attention of the A. Ph. A. to the disposition of Surgeon chemicals. Some months ago, we called the attention General Wyman to co-operate with the A. Ph. A. in of the Division of Chemistry to the use of the term advancing the welfare of Pharmacy. The Hygienic "benzoate of soda" when referring to "sodium benLabaratory established the standard for antitoxinzoate," but we note that Circular No. 39, dated July which was adopted by the Committee on Revision of the 20, 1908, repeats the error. As long as the United Pharmacopoeia. We are not surprised to learn that States Pharmacopoeia is the legal standard under the Surgeon General Wyman has set aside an adequate Food and Drugs Act, the department should see to it appropriation to be used in collecting and editing the that pharmacopoeial nomenclature is always followed various comments and criticisms on the U. S. P. VIII. when mentioning the official chemicals. The chief of which have appeared in the publications of the world the division and the director of the drug laboratory are since the present revision of the Pharmacopoeia has both members of the A. Ph. A. and in touch with been on the market. As valuable as this collection pharmaceutical affairs. will be, the service of the work to pharmacy will be still further enhanced by referring to the Hygienic Laboratory all questions pertaining to changes in standards, tests and formulas. In the laboratory, practical work will demonstrate proper tests, desirable formulas and just standards. This work will be of great service to the next Committee on Revision of the Pharmacopoeia. We understand that the Board of Trustees of the Pharmacopœia had authorized the collection of comments at the expense of the Pharmacopoeial convention but this liberal action on the part of Surgeon General Wyman will render such expense and duplication of work unnecessary.

Dr. Reid Hunt will have general charge of the work. He is prominent in the A. Ph. A. and is also a member of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry of the A. M. A., and will have Dr. Murray Galt Motter, of Washington, D. C., Secretary of the U. S. P. C. Board of Trustees, and M. I. Wilbert, a member of the Council of the A. Ph. A. and former pharmacist at the German Hospital, Philadelphia, to look after the details of the work of collecting and editing the comments and criticisms of the Pharmacopoeia. Both men are eminently fitted for this work. The results will be published in the form of Bulletins of the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service.

This is by far the most important recognition which the government has ever given pharmacy and we feel that it will lead to still further co-operation between the United States Pharmacopœial Convention and this department of the government which is in a position to advance pharmaceutical interests in the United States.

Correct as Well as Honest Labels for pharmaceutical chemicals and preparations are certain to come

The price-list published in the MEYER BROthers DRUGGIST covering pharmacopoeial and National Formulary chemicals and preparations has been revised from time to time during several years past, with a view of making it conform as closely as is practicable to the nomenclature of these standard works. If price-lists were used only by pharmacists, posted on up-to-date nomenclature, a list could be held strictly to the standards without detracting from its practical value as a work of reference. Of course, cross-references can be made so that the person looking for "Phenol" under "Acid, Carbolic," will finally locate his item, and the person looking under "Gum" for "Camphor" will find that it is listed as "Camphor." But there is a limit to the extent to which crossreferences can be used without detracting from the practical value of a price-list. It is our ambition to continue revising the list in the MEYER Brothers DRUGGIST So that it will be kept thoroughly abreast with the progress of pharmaceutical education. When college graduation is required before state registration the retail druggist will no longer look for "Opium" under "Gum," but will be ready to use a price-list that to-day would be criticised as inconvenient.

Is the Demand for Quinine Decreasing?—The price for this alkaloid has reached an unprecedentedly low mark and various are the explanations made to account for this condition. An over-production of cinchona bark which is now under successful cultivation accounts to some extent for the price, but those in a position fo know claim that the demand for quinine is gradually growing less. We believe this is due, in a great measure, at least, to the successful fight againt malaria. As the country is cultivated and breeding places for mosquitoes destroyed, malaria disappears.

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Even the younger generation can remember the time when chills and fever were taken as a matter of course, in sections of the country where few cases are now found. At one time, quinine was considered a necessary adjunct to every medicine, and we constantly hear of malarial types of typhoid fever and other diseases. Now that it is fully demonstrated that mosquitoes carry the malarial germs from fever stricken patients to those who are well, we may anticipate the time when malaria will become practically a disease of the past. Since quinine is used almost exclusively in malarial troubles, the demand for that medicine will gradually decrease and perhaps reach that point where the price will greatly advance on account of the small consumption and consequently small scale on which

it will be manufactured.

A Mania for Board Certificates.-If you become intimately acquainted with a busy man, you will find that he has some kind of a hobby, usually that of collecting. The range of objects to be collected is almost beyond comprehension, and in this age of specialization, the different lines have been subdivided until we find specialties among collectors with lines as closely drawn as those in any of the divisions of botany or zoology. Pharmacy is developing a line of collectors who are no way related to those who collect as a matter of recreation and diversion. This new class of collectors has a mania for registering in as many states as possible. They are constantly corresponding with the secretaries of various boards in an effort to register. This is not done with a view of ever making use of the certificates of registration, but for the purpose of being able to say that they are registered in a long list of different states. When universal interchange of certificates comes about, it will perhaps be possible for a pharmacist to register in each state and territory in the Union. We suggest that the fee be made sufficiently high, so that the class of collectors of certificates of registration, to which we have just referred, will not indulge in general registration without good and sufficient excuse.

Women in Pharmacy are not particularly interested in the decision of the Supreme Court of the United

States to the effect that a state has a constitutional right to regulate the hours of labor for women. From a purely legal standpoint of view the decision is an interesting one and is exceptional in receiving the endorsement of the whole bench in the government's highest legal tribunal. Thus far, the laws passed by perhaps half of the states of the Union regulating the hours of work for women do not cover women in pharmacy. As far as we have been able to observe, those who stand behind the prescription counter, or the sales counter, devote the usual number of drug store hours to make up the day's work, and it is not likely that they will ever be favored with special legislation. In fact, we have heard some proprietors express the opinion that women take more kindly to

the long hours, or rather long days, in a drug store than do the men.

The National Political Situation interests pharmacists because they are thinking citizens and ready to take part in exercising the duty as well as the privi

lege of the ballot. It is not likely that mere senti

ment or professional fraternalism will influence the pharmacists of this country in casting their votes for president. At one time, it looked as if a pharmacist might be nominated by one of the two great parties, but, since it is no longer possible to see a pharmacist occupy the White House on March 4, 1909, we are confident that the pharmacists of the country will be guided by their political principles and prejudices. While these are largely a matter of inheritance and the result of early training, they are nevertheless potent and cause us to live up to our respective political beliefs with the same fidelity that we maintain our religion.

A National Board of Pharmacy, under the provision of a National Pharmacy Law, is suggested by a recent writer. He has evidently forgotten the teachings of his forefathers and the days of state rights. A National Pharmacy Law would not be constitutional and consequently it is useless to talk about such a regulation. For the present it is best to work for uniform state laws and bring the Boards of Pharmacy as closely together as possible with a view of securing uniform administration of Pharmacy Laws.

The Doctor Must Not Depend Upon the Patient's statement when he claims that he is sick and diagnoses his case as one requiring whisky as a therapeutic agent. At least the physician must follow such a practice in Texas. The doctor who disregarded it and was fined, appealed his case, but lost in the higher court. A physician should examine a patient and decide that whisky is the proper remedy, and if he prescribes it in good faith, need not fear prosecution in even the most strenuous prohibition town.

The Eighty-eight Minute Demonstration for Bryan at the Democratic National Convention, and the forty-seven minute applause for Roosevelt at the Chicago Republican National Convention, reminds

some of our readers of the demonstration which occurred during the convention of the N. A. R. D. at Chicago, last September. Bottled up enthusiasm is by no means limited to political conventions. Pharmacists possess their share of this article, and on occasions have demonstrated their ability to use it.

Goods that Freeze or become turbid in cold weather should not be shipped by freight when the temperature is low. For the convenience of the readers of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST we published, on page 48 of our September issue, a carefully prepared list of goods which are liable to be injured by cold weather. The list again revised appears in the October number and we commend the same to the careful attention of our readers.

STRAY ITEMS AND COMMENTS.

The Handling of Intoxicating Liquors in the drug store is causing no end of trouble to the legitimate pharmacists since the passage of prohibition and local option laws. Those pharmacists who do not pay the internal revenue tax as retail liquor dealers are congratulating themselves that they are out of trouble and will remain so as long as they live up to their avowed policy.

Benzoate of Soda and Soda Water Syrups.-An effort is being made to educate pharmacists up to the point where they will observe pharmacopoeial nomenclature. We suppose that one of our valued exchanges is excusable in using the term "benzoate of soda" because it is used in conjunction with "soda" water syrups, otherwise there could be no excuse for ignoring the pharmacopoeial "sodium benzoate."

Must Be Honest But Need Not Be a Pharmacist.We have received a request for a young man to accept a position as druggist and sales clerk. It is specified that he must be honest, truthful, industrious and willing to learn, but need not be experienced, as those with experience seem to be unwilling to adapt themselves to the business as they find it in the west. Honesty is the first consideration, no matter what the calling may be.

Manufacturers Should Not Mix the Labels.-The government recently prosecuted the manufacturer of a vanilla flavor for failing to place on it an honest label stating that it was made from vanillin and artificially colored with caramel. The manufacturer pleaded guilty and stated that the labels were accidentally mixed in the labeling room, This should be a warning to other manufacturers to use sufficient caution to prevent such accidents, as suits of this kind are embarrassing as well as expensive.

The Pharmuceutical Press is Indebted to A. F.

A. F. SALA.

Sala, of Winchester, Ind., Secretary of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy for a comprehensive synopsis of the Hot Springs meeting. Mr. Sala is a very efficient officer and understands how to get at the facts in the case.

Still in the Pharmaceutical Eye. When we published a half-tone of W. S. Elkin, Jr., in our February, 1908, issue, announcing him as being in the pharmaceutical eye, we made a forecast of his election as president of the N. A. R. D. at Atlantic City last month.

The Proprietors of So-Called Drug Stores where intoxicating liquors are dispensed as such are no

longer eligible to join the Masonic Fraternity in Missouri. Such is the decision of the Grand Lodge which met in St. Louis in September. Saloon keepers have for several years been on the list of ineligibles and the Grand Lodge did not hesitate in adding so-called druggists who properly belong with the class of saloon keepers. This action is in keeping with the resolution adopted at the Hot Springs meeting of the A. Ph. A. and will receive the hearty endorsement of pharmacists everywhere.

Don't Be a Clam!-Don't breathe calamity! This injunction is sufficiently forcible to open up the shell of a bi-valve even if it cannot raise the dead. It is, however, tame, compared to some of the expressions contained in the report of the Committee on Trade Interests submitted to the Illinois Pharmaceutical Association by Chairman Wilhelm Bodemann, who thoroughly understands human nature and realizes that the same classes of humanity are found in pharmacy as in other walks in life. Mr. Bodemann closes his report full of useful advice by saying:

"A cooped up, imprisoned, bilious druggist can neither be a good husband, father or citizen, and it is your plain sacred duty to yourself, your family and your state to help in the regeneration of pharmacy. Don't be a clam-don't breathe calamity-get up and out, and emancipate yourself! Don't sit in your store, studying the race cards or devouring yellow literature; read your drug journals, see what others are doing, and tell others what you are doing; help the editors, these poor creatures, to make their columns good, lively reading, and you will help others as well."

Potassium Chlorate Explosion.-In reference to the explosion of chlorate of potassium which occurred at our establishment recently; as the matter is of importance to the many makers of chlorate tablets, we think it may serve a useful purpose to give the actual facts of the case.

The chlorate was of the kind usually known as "santonin crystals." It was tested for purity before compressing and the quantity remaining was again tested and found to be faultless and quite clear. It was being compressed upon an ordinary rotary machine of a type which we have used for several years with perfectly satisfactory results, and similar to those which we have known to be used elsewhere for many years.

The machine after a thorough cleaning had been working on this particular lot for one whole day and for an hour and a half the next when a violent explosion occurred. The machine was wrecked and a portion of it unfortunately struck the attendant on the head with fatal result. The attendant had been engaged upon the work for ten years, was a thoroughly reliable man and understood the necessity of caution in handling chlorate.

So far we have not been able by careful investigation to determine any reason for the explosion, nor to find that any conditions were different from those under which many hundreds of tons have been successfully handled.-[SHARP & DOHME, Baltimore, Md.

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A Portion of the Mo. Ph. A. Delegation in Front of Minnewawa Hotel, June, 1908.-[Photo by Stone, Warrensburg.

Now is the time to plan for the 1909 meeting.

Now is the Time to plan on attending the Joplin meeting.

The Missouri Board of Pharmacy will meet at Joplin, Monday, June 14.

Visitors from other states have promised to attend the 1909 meeting.

The Proceedings of the 1908 meeting have been mailed to all members who have paid their dues for 1908.

The Local Secretary for the Joplin meeting will
be selected by the council.

June 15, 16, 17 and 18 is the date of the 1909
meeting.

The Mo. Ph. Travelers' A. will, of course, meet
with the Mo. Ph. A. at Joplin.

A Long List of new members are promised from
Joplin and that section of Missouri.

Joplin Has Been Selected by the Committee on Time and Place for the 1909 meeting.

A Complete File of the proceedings of the Mo.
Ph. A. is a valuable library.

The Missouri Board of Pharmacy meets at the St.
Louis College of Pharmacy at 9 a. m. Monday,
October 12.

Twenty-five Years of membership in the Mo. Ph.
A. entitles holder to life membership without
further payment of dues.

The Entertainment Feature of the 1909 meeting
will be along new lines (See paper of William H.
Lamont on page 107 of the proceedings for 1908.)

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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.

A Missouri Physician (90) cannot fill his own whiskey prescription, nor can he have them filled in a drug store which he is running, or in which he is interested.

Membership in the A. C. P. F. (91).—An institu

tion must have been in continuous operation for five years before it is eligible for membership in the American Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties.

Enforce the Missouri Pharmacy Law (92).-The prosecuting attorney is the party charged with the duty of enforcing the pharmacy law. The secretary of the board of pharmacy is Charles Gietner, 203 South Broadway, St. Louis, Mo.

To Silver Horn (93).-The Scientific American says: "The horn perfectly freed from oil is painted with a saturated solution of gallic acid and then with a solution of 20 parts of nitrate of silver in 100 parts of water. Repeat the coatings alternately until the black color is replaced by a slight silver tint, then paint once more with the silver solution. Rubbing down with cream of tartar solution completes the silvering."

Sold a Liniment Containing Denatured Alcohol (94). We do not know what we can advise that will help you out of your difficulty. If you really sold a liquid containing denatured alcohol and the government inspector has a sample, he will be able to detect the same on account of the kerosene and wood alcohol

used to denature the grain alcohol. Our advice is to make the best terms you can with the government official and be careful in the future to avoid legal entanglements.

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This is the best preparation, but one in which the beeswax is merely dissolved in the turpentine in such a way as to have the consistence of a not too thin oil color, will answer. The wood is treated with this, taking care that the surface is evenly covered with the mixture, and that it does not sink too deeply in the ornaments, corners, etc., of the woodwork. This is the best achieved by taking care to scrape off from the cloths all excess of the wax.

If, in the course of twenty-four hours, the surface is hard, then with a stiff brush go over it, much after the way of polishing a boot. For the corners and angles smaller brushes are used; when necessary, stiff pencils may be employed. Finally, the whole is polished with plush, or velvet rags, in order not to injure the original polish. Give the article a good coat of linseed oil or a washing with petroleum before beginning work.

II. Articles that are always exposed to the water, floors, doors, especially of oak, should, from time to time, be saturated with oil or wax. A house door, plentifully decorated with wood carving, will not shrink or warp, even where the sun shines hottest on it, when it is frequently treated to saturation with wax and oil. Here a plain dosage with linseed oil is sufficient. Varnish, without the addition of turpentine, should never be used, or if used it should be followed by a coat of wax.

III. A good floor wax is composed of 2 parts of wax and 3 parts of Venice turpentine, melted on the water bath, and the mixture applied while still hot, using a pencil, or brush, for the application, and when it has become solid and dry, diligently rubbed, or polished down with a woolen cloth, or with a floor brush, especially made for the purpose.

IV. An emulsion of 5 parts of yellow wax, 2 parts of crude potassium carbonate, and 12 parts of water, boiled together until they assume a milky color and the solids are dissolved, used cold, makes an excellent composition for floors. Any desired color may be given this dressing by stirring in the powdered coloring matter. Use it exactly as described for the first

mass.

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