The Employment Bureau of the Alumni Association of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy reports a plentiful supply of clerks seeking positions but a scarcity of vacancies.

Emery Williams, for several years manager of the Glen Drug Co., has opened a strictly prescription drug store on the second floor of the Metropolitan Building, Olive Street and Grand Avenue.

As Predicted in These Columns a few months ago, Wm. Kahre piloted his Bowling Team, The Eli Lilly's, to victory in Druggists' Cocked Hat League, the first half of the series closing January 11.

Fred Hartman, one of the successful candidates before the recent State Board meeting, held in Jefferson City, is now manager of the Taylor Morgan Pharmacy, Taylor Avenue and Suburban car tracks.

Otto Hanser, 2900 Chouteau Avenue, has installed a complete set of floor cases and remodeled the interior of the store. Mr. Hanser belongs to that progressive class of pharmacists who believe that the best advertisement of a good drug store is a good looking interior.

The West End Drug Club held their regular December meeting in Rose Hill hall, Hamilton and Maple Avenues, for the purpose of devising means of increasing the membership and creating interest in things pertaining to the retail drug business.

The Sunday Closing Movement has not as yet developed to any extent in St. Louis. Perhaps it will require the Governor to place the lid on drug stores on Sunday. He, however, will have no occasion to do so on account of liquor sales, as St. Louis drug stores are in no sense akin to saloons.

Professor J. M. Good is now fairly settled in his new location at the northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Olive Street, after having spent twenty-eight years in business at the southeast corner of these streets. He has with him W. O. Luly, Ph. G., E. W. Diamond, Ph. G., and J. B. Hicks, Ph. G.

Gus H. J. Andreas, Ph. G., has a very handsome as well as prosperous drug business at Vandeventer Avenue and Shenandoah Street. He is ex-president of the Alumni Association of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and interested in numerous other organizations.

George W. Steininger, Then And Now.-The above half tones represent this popular pharmacist as he appeared on the day of graduation from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, March 4, 1883, and as he is seen today in charge of the Billing Department of the Meyer Brothers Drug Co.

R. M. Johnson, the popular young druggist who opened a new store at Page and Walton Avenues a few months ago, shouldered his trusty rifle and went hunting last week. From reports circulated around the neighborhood he evidently went "dear hunting," because there is a very pretty young lady presiding over a handsomely furnished home on Walton Avenue, who responds to the name of Mrs. Johnson.

The Regular Monthly Meeting of the Executive Board of the Alumni Association of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, was held at Huegels drug store January 18, and plans for the annual ball and entertainment were considered and from the reports of the entertainment committee, it is evident that the association will be compelled to forego the pleasure of the dramatic portion of the program because of their inability to secure a suitable hall.

L. C. Swinnen, secretary of the South Side Mortar and Pestle Club reports a very enthusiastic meeting at Seeger's Hall, Jefferson and Allen Avenues, January 12. Several new names were added to the roster, which indicates that the committee on organization is busy. The question of "Empty Containers" came up for discussion and a committee was appointed to take up the matter with the local jobbers and report the result of their conference to the members during the next meeting.

The Spatula Club composed of West End druggists held their regular monthly meeting January 14, at Rose Hill Hall, Hamilton and Maple Avenues. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

M. J. Noll, president; O. J. Cloughly, vice president; G. V. Huesgen, secretary and treasurer.

The club as a body decided to discontinue receiving gas bills and handling books for the public library.

The question of issuing money orders was taken under advisement and will be reported by a committee next meeting.

MARKET REVIEW.

The First Month of the New Year proved to be, all things considered, a more satisfactory one than had been anticipated, and while we hear of some complaints in other lines of trade, such complaints are not general with the drug trade, and the prevailing opinion is that there will be a continued gradual improvement in the volume of business.

There is no reason for predicting a "bad year” though it is true that there is some likelihood of not equaling the enormous volume that was enjoyed for the first ten months of 1907.

There seems to be a downward tendency to values though this is not of a serious character. It is not precipitous, any downward tendency is likely to be checked by fairly good buying, for the reason that stocks are low. We append below a list of items chiefly affected during the past thirty days, together with the current local values thereon.

Quinine. This staple is locally a trifle firmer, there having been a slight revision in schedules. The last bark sale was at a lower unit, and the situation in this respect is such that higher prices do not seem probable. Still the bark situation is closely controlled, supplies are in strong hands and for this reason there may be somewhat higher quotations on quinine. At present writing the following quotations are ruling in this market; P & W., on the basis of 100-oz. cans, 17c; M. B., 16c; 25-oz. cans, 19c; 5-oz. cans, 23c; 1-oz. vials, 28c.

Opium-Reacted sharply to a higher level due to the report of unfavorable weather in growing districts, and that the crop was in a serious condition. Gum quotable at $4.90; powdered or granular, M. B., $5.85.

Morphine. This staple is firmly held at $3.30 for -oz. vials in 24-oz. boxes; $3.10 for 1-oz. vials; in 10-oz. lots at 10c per oz. less.

Alcohol, Grain.-Quotably higher; though we learn that local houses have withdrawn their requirement for currency in advance, with which to pay the revenue tax.

The usual credit extension is now given on sales of this item. The basis in this market for barrels is $2.77; bbls., $2.80; 10-gal. cans, $2.93; 5-gal. cans, $3.01 with an allowance of 10c per gallon for cash in ten days.

Denatured.-Quotable in barrels, 40c; bbls., 44c; 10-gal. cans, 57c.

Wood, 95%.-Barrels, 42c; bbls. 47c; 10-gal. cans, 57c; 5-gal. cans, 62c.

Acetone, Technical.-Quantity lots are quotably lower, being on the basis of $1.00 per gal. to 30 to 35c per lb. in a small way.

Acid, Boric.-Both crystals and powdered in bulk, declined to 124 to 17c as to quantity.

Citric.—Declined; quotable in kegs 35 to 55c as wanted. In sympathy with the lower market for citric acid the following citrates are lower:

Iron and Ammonium Citrate, 53 to 61c.

Iron Phosphate, scales U. S. P. 61c.
Iron Pyrophosphate, 61c.

Potassium Citrate, 54c.

Sodium Citrate, 55 to 56c.

Acetic. Declined; U. S. P. 36%, 8 to 10c; Pure, No.

8, 8 to 10c..

Glacial, U. S. P.-24 to 30c.

Oxalic.-Declined; bbls. 8 to 14c as wanted.

Tartaric.-Declined; bbls., 294 to 37c.

Aloin. Quotably higher; $1.25 to $1.45.

Ammonium Carbonate.- Advanced to 11 to 15c; in cans, 15 to 18c.

Arsenic. Declined to 10 to 15c as to quantity.
Balsam Peru.—Quotably lower; $2.35 to $2.55.
Borax.-Quotably lower; bbls. 5c; 6 to 10c as to

quantity.

Blue Vitriol. Declined; bbls. 6 to 10 to 12c.
Cerium Oxalate.-Declined to 42c.

Cocoa Butter, Fingers.-Advanced to 55 to 76c as to quantity.

Cocaine.- Quotably lower; ounce vials, $2.55; Is, $2.75.

Copaiba, U. S. P.-Advanced to 70 to 80c as to quantity.

Cream Tartar.-Quotably lower; 27 to 32c as to quantity.

Gum, Chicle.--Advanced; bags 52 to 65 to 70c in a small way.

Gambier. Declined to 94 to 15c as to quantity.
Guaiac.-Quotably lower; 30 to 35c.

Guarana. Declined to 131c; powdered, 5c higher.

Hydrastinine Hydrochloride.- Advanced; 5-gr. vials, $1.10.

Iron Sulphate, Ferrous.-Advanced; bbls. 3 to 7 to 12c in a small way.

Isinglass, Russian.—Quotably lower, $3.85.

Leaves, Uva Ursi.—Declined; 8 to 12c as to quantity. Lycopodium. - Declined; 22-lb. bundles 59 to 79c as

wanted.

Naphthalin.-Advanced; bbls., 2 to 4 to 5c.

Oil, Benne.-Advanced; bbls., 93c to $1.13 to $1.20. Bergamot, Reina.-Declined to $4.25 to $4.45. Cassia. Declined to $1.45 to $1.65 as to quantity. Citronella.-Quotably lower; 1000-lb. drums, 32 to

52 to 60c.

Cedar Leaf.-Advanced to 82 to 90c.
Cloves. -Declined to $1.10 to $1.25.
Oil, Cocoanut.-Declined to 16 to 20c.

Lemon, Reina.-Declined; 1-1b. coppers, $1.80. Orange, Sweet, Reina.-Declined; 1-lb. coppers, $3.40.

Olive, Malaga, Yellow.-Quotably lower; bbls., 75 to 95c as wanted.

Spearmint.-Advanced to $4.50.
Tansy.-Advanced to $5.75.

Worm Seed.-Declined to $3.00 to $3.25.

Linseed. Quotably unchanged; raw, bbls., 40c; boiled, 41c; with the usual advances for smaller packages.

PRACTICAL PHARMACY.

Cleaning Bottles.-An easy way of introducing impurity into a solution is to put it into a dirty bottle; yet it is not easy to be quite sure that the interior is clean. Mere rinsing out, however thoroughly performed, is only effective when the bottle has been used for something easily soluble in water. Solutions of caustic potash or of caustic soda, it may be noted, and to a less degree of the carbonates of those alkalies, although soluble, almost always leave their traces on the bottle that has held them. This is not so much due to impurity, although from outside it will look like it, but to an actual damage or corroding of the surface of the glass. It may be quite clean, even if it does not look it, but as the destruction of the surface gives it a tooth that would retain impurities, it is best not to use such a bottle for anything else. One secret of cleansing a bottle is never to let anything dry in it, but to wash it out thoroughly directly it is done with. For bottles that are to hold solutions, it is an excellent plan to put them away, after washing, full of clean water. Any dirt that cannot be removed by rinsing may perhaps be got off by the aid of a bottle brush. A pint of strong hydrochloric acid may be kept for cleaning purposes; it will last a long time, as after use it may be poured back into the bottle, but, of course, it is contaminated and must not be used for

Potassium Dichromate.-Advanced; bbls. 10 to 14 to 15c.

Root, Belladonna.—Declined to 22 to 30c.
Ipecac, Carthagena.-Declined to $2.20 to $2.40.
Rio.-$2.35 to $2.55.

Rosin. Quotably higher; E grade, $5.25 per bbl. of 280 lbs.

Santonin.-A further material decline is noted. Crystals, lb. bottles, $5.50. oz. 47c; powd., 25c higher.

Seed, Caraway.-Advanced; bags, 12 to 17 to 20c in a small way.

Worm, Levant.—Declined; bags, 9 to 16 to 20c. Silver Nitrate.-Advanced; P. & W. bottles, $6.68; M. B., $6.08; oz. 48c.

Shellac, T. N.-Declined; case lots, 304 to 364 to 39c. Sodium Benzoate.-Declined to 41 to 52c. Sodium Phosphate.-Advanced; 6 to 11c as to quantity.

Glassware.-Quotable discounts unchanged. Pearl Ovals, case lots, 75%; 5 case lots, 75%; larger quantities, 75 and 5%; Baltimore Ovals, brandy finish, 75 and 10%; 5 case lots, 75, 10 and 5%; larger quantities, 80%; Comet Ovals, 80 and 15%; 25 case lots, 85%; 50 case lots, 85 and 5%.

Window Glass.-Unchanged; single strength, 30 and 20%; double strength, 90 and 25%.

Turpentine.-Advanced; bbls., 60c; 10-gal. cans, 71c; 5-gal. cans, 75c, packages inclusive.

and put away for a day or two; even if after this the dirt is still visible, the acid has probably loosened it, and some tea leaves and a little water, well shaking the bottle for a minute or two, will then do what is needed. Two old-fashioned methods of bottle cleaning which should never be used when the bottles are to hold chemicals are shaking sand and shaking shot in the bottles. The former damages the glass; the latter may leave the bottle, from a chemical point of view, dirtier than before, being contaminated with lead.-[Canadian Druggist.

A Rare Collection of Jewels. An inventory of the jewel treasure left by the Shah of Persia shows that the precious stones collected by him are valued at about $50,000,000. This collection contains a number of diamonds unrivaled, and other stones. The old crown of the Persian dynasty holds a ruby as big as a hen's egg. A belt studded with diamonds, worn only on great state occasions, weighs eighteen pounds and is valued at millions of dollars. A wonderful silver vase is decorated with a hundred emeralds, one of which was so large it was possible to engrave on it the Shah's numberless titles. A sword with a diamond covered scabbard is valued at $120,000. A remarkable feature of the collection is a square block of amber of 400 cubic inches, which the Persians say dropped from the skies in the time of Mahomet.-[Philatelic West.

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