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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.

- Uses An Auto to Deliver Goods.-I am a user of

the auto medicine delivery and am glad to say it gets 'em there in a hurry. One lady said it got there by the time she walked down stairs from the phone and had to hurry then to open the door. It's the most convenient thing I ever had and am seriously thinking of using them on our laundry delivery, as one auto can do the work of three horses and wagons in a day's run. My experience is it gives prestige and attracts attention at all times and is a good advertisement, not saying a word about the pleasure I have out of it after working hours. Hope others will fall in line and use them. A good one is model R. Ford runabout.-[WILL F. GERMANN, Fort Smith, Ark.

A Convenient Bottle Washer.

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The above rough drawing represents a very convenient arrangement for washing bottles. Solder on the water pipe a short, pointed metal tube No. 1 (the end off a metal syringe being a good one if nothing else is at hand), have the tap for turning on the water between this tube and the main pipe No. 2. To use invert the bottle and stand it over the tube as in No. 3 and turn on the water. The smaller the opening in the tube, the greater the force.-[L. W. MARSHALL, Lexington, Mo.

Non Freezing Mixture for Autos.-Noting your inquiry as to a proper antifreezing mixture for automobiles, page 72 of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST, I will call to your mind that last year I sent you a formula for this purpose which you at that time pub

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This prescription will do the trick and is free from the objections you name, that is corrosion; also it is free from the objections so common to the use of dilute Wood Alcohol.

The trouble with this latter solution is that the solution used for cooling the cylinders of the machine frequently reaches a point where it will boil which may be 212 degrees or more; as the boiling point of Wood Alcohol is far below this point you will have little of it left in the solution after a run, and what you do have, is simply water which freezes when the machine cools.

In addition to this you have the disagreeable effects of the alcohol on the eyes and lungs and the danger of explosion if a match should be lighted while

out on a trip.

For the physician who is compelled to use his machine in cold weather I would say follow me and use an air cooled machine only. During the winter of 1906 and 1907 I used the Glycerine solution and kept a small tin can of it outside the garage all the time and examined it every day for freezing which I at no time found, and every week or two I would dump the can into the tank and draw a fresh sample for test.

With the glycerine solution the water only evaporates and may be replaced as required; the use of a hydrometer is recommended. Distilled water is best as it deposits no lime and absorbs part of the existing coat. The alcohol solution is best to use in the aectylene generator for lamps.-[A. G. SERVOSS, M. D., Havana, I11.

Specializing in a Wholesale Drug House.-As the years roll by we find that there is an ever increasing tendency to specialize in all lines of trade and that the thoughts and energies of men in their various occupations are more concentrated, and defined along certain lines and channels than formerly. This not only holds true in the manufacturing of most everything under the sun where the many parts composing the finished product are perhaps made by a dozen different firms and then assembled and combined to produce the finished article, but likewise is it becoming more so in other lines, regardless of whether it be a strictly manufacturing plant or a mercantile institution.

Referring now to commercial houses with regard to the extent to which specializing of work is carried on, it necessarily depends upon the magnitude of the institution, for it can be clearly seen that a house having a limited trade is not justified in specializing to the extent of a competitive house which does a far larger business. In these days of keen competition, conditions are therefore favorable to the larger houses, which, owing to the greater volume of business done are in a position to carry out the policy of specializing, without great fear that the buyers and clerks are not kept sufficiently occupied, but instead by looking after

their assigned work they are better able to give the same their entire time and undivided attention than if it were expected of them in addition to have “fill in” jobs far at variance from their regular duties in which they take pride, and in which they are making constant strenuous efforts to accomplish a meritorious showing.

By way of illustration we have in mind a large western wholesale drug house which, in the great variety and number of its departments operates along the lines of having its employes confine their work as much as possible to such duties for which their services have been engaged, thus becoming more and more expert in their particular branch of work.

The firm referred to draws very close lines in this respect in their order department, for we are informed that instead of, as in former years, having a clerk fill an order complete, he is placed in charge of a certain line, for instance one is given charge of

Pharmaceuticals.

One of chemicals.

One of leather goods.

One of bristle goods.

One of rubber goods.

One of stationery goods.

One of each section of patent medicines.

One of pharmaceuticals manufactured by the firm.
One of perfumes manufactured by the firm, etc.

The advantages derived through specializing is probably most significant in the purchasing department in having the purchasing of the great variety of products that are handled in the drug business attended to by limiting the buying of each man to as small a variety as possible. This affords him the opportunity to become thoroughly familiar with the line he has to look after, enabling him to purchase at the lowest figures and in the best markets, whereas if he were given a greater variety of departments to buy for he would be handicapped through lack of time to do full justice to any branch.

The large number of buyers connected with the house referred to appear to be kept exceedingly busy although there are not less than a dozen looking after this end of the business under the supervision of a head buyer aside from this number. The division of this work is about as follows:

1.-Patents.

2.-Liquors and bottles.

3.-Crude drugs.

4. Chemicals

5.-Pharmaceuticals.

6.-Paints and paint brushes.

7.-Fixtures and outfit goods.

8.-Sponges and chamois.

9.-Bristle and rubber goods.

1-Stationery supplies, leather goods. 11.-Toilet preparations.

12.-Cigars.

It appears to be the natural trend of the times that specializing in all lines is rapidly growing to be more and more the rule and there is no doubt but that as a consequence, while the general knowledge of the average person in matters referred to in this article is likely to narrow down, each one on the other hand becomes more proficient through making his line a

specialty, and in this the results attained are superior to those under former methods.-[A. C. M.

STRAY ITEMS AND COMMENTS.

Arkansas Getting Ready for the A. Ph. A.-The Little Rock druggists recently held a meeting to make arrangements for the state association convention which will be held in that city during May. The state association will take an active part in preparing for the A. Ph. A. convention, at Hot Springs, September 7

The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.When this was established, the A. Ph. A. made a special effort to have pharmacy recognized, but the directors felt that the scope was sufficiently large without special mention of pharmacy. During the present year, scholarships will be awarded in pharmacology, under which heading pharmaceutical work can be given attention. We hope that pharmacists interested have made proper application, as awards will be made before May 15. The secretary is L. Emmett Holt, M. D., 44 West Fifty-fifth Street, New York City.

Alabama Has a New Pharmacy Law, and every one who desires to register is required to stand an examination. The only exception is an interchange of certificates with other state boards. This provision is

a wise one and reads as follows:

Sec. 4. That said Board of Pharmacy shall have the right to issue to a pharmacist who holds a certificate of qualification as a pharmacist from the Board of Pharmacy of another state a license without requiring him to undergo an examination, provided, that the standard of qualification maintained by said Board of Pharmacy of another state is at least equal to that maintained by the Board of Pharmacy in this state, and provided, further, that the applicant is a person of good moral character and temperate habits.

The poison law is a stringent one. A prescription is required for narcotics.

Sodium Benzoate in Foods.-Food Inspection Decision 89. Amendment to Food Inspection Decision 76, Relating to the Use in Foods of Benzoate of Soda and Sulphur Dioxid.

The question of the addition to food of minute quantities of benzoate of soda and of sulphur dioxid will be certified immediately by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Referee Board of consulting scientific experts.

Pending determination by the Referee Board of the wholesomeness or unwholesomeness of these substances, their use will be allowed under the following restrictions:

Benzoate of soda, in quantities not exceeding one-tenth of one per cent, may be added to those foods in which generally heretofore it has been so used. The addition of benzoate of soda shall be plainly stated upon the label of each package of such food.

No objection will be made to foods which contain the ordinary quantities of sulphur dioxid, if the fact that such foods have been so prepared is plainly stated upon the label of each package. An abnormal quantity of sulphur dioxid placed in food for the purpose of marketing an excessive moisture content will be regarded as fraudulent adulteration, under the Food and Drugs Act of June 30, 1906, and will be proceeded against accordingly. Food Inspection Decision No. 76, issued July 13, 1907, is hereby amended accordingly.

Bind the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST for 1907.

EDITORIAL COMMENT.

any direct government authorizaton. Since the enact ment of the Pure Food and Drugs Law specifically makes the Pharmacopoeia a legal standard, some have suggested the propriety of placing the Phar

When is an Alcoholic Beverage Alcoholic?-Ac-macopoeia entirely in the hands of the govern

cording to the government, a beverage must contain one half of one per cent of alcohol in order to come under the internal revenue clause covering the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages. The prohibition people are not likely to draw the same mathematical line. With them, alcohol is alcohol, no matter how little or how much is present. Thus, it behooves pharmacists in prohibition or local option sections to be extremely careful what kind of, if any, alcoholic drinks they handle.

No More Medicines or Prescriptions by Mail if a bill which has passed the Senate and at this writing is in the House of Representatives, becomes a law. It is intended to prevent the use of the mails from further traffic in medicines sold for criminal purposes. As so often happens, the framers of the bill have been over-zealous and defeated their own object. As the bill reads it applies practically to all medicines and prescriptions. It should be amended and, no doubt, will be. This is one of the cases where the late Albert E. Ebert would have been glad to defend the position of the drug trade. The bill should exempt prescriptions and goods mailed by the legitimate trade.

Pure Food and Drugs Law Upheld.-A jury in the Police Court has decided in favor of the government in the suit against Robert N. Harper, of Washington, D. C., for violation of the Pure Food and Drugs Law as interpreted by the government. Mr. Harper manufactures Curforhedake.

The govern

ment contends that no one remedy can be a cure for headache in all cases and that it is a false label which announces a cure. Of course, the defendant has appealed and is likely to take the case to the highest court, provided he does not receive a reversal of the jury decision before reaching the bench of last resort. The court proceedings have been watched with intense interest by proprietary medicine manufacturers, many of whom have in the past laid great stress upon the word "cure." The medical profession does not recognize specfiic remedies. It is, however, too early for general comment on the legal position of manufacturers in this respect, for, from the standpoint of the lawyer, the case in the Police Court is only the beginning, no matter how decided. The lawyers for the defendants argued that Curfodhedake is a wonderful discovery to be associated in history with the discovery of anæsthesia. They called the attention of the jury to the manner in which practitioners were persecuted, if not prosecuted, when in the early days of anæsthetics they dared to use such remedies to avoid pain.

The Pharmacpoœia and Government Cooperation in Revision. The Pharmacopoeia of the United States is published by an incorporated body and without

ment. The suggestion has not met with very general approval, nor does the government seem to be particularly anxious to undertake this work. The subject comes up for consideration in a new form at the present time on account of a bill introduced in the House of Representatives March 6, "to further protect the public health, and imposing additional duties upon the public health and marine hospital service." This bill, among other things, refers to the Secretary of the Treasury by saying: "He shall also cooperate with the trustees of the United States Pharmacopoeia and prepare and publish, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, digests embodying the results of investigations for use in revision of said Pharmacopoeia." If this bill (H. R. 18792), becomes a law, it will render the work of revision valuable assistance and at the same time bring the Pharmacopœia into closer relation with the government officials. If we mistake not, the department has already considered the subject of publishing a digest of the but comments on the Pharmacopoeia now in use, seems to have been hampered by the lack of specific authority.

STRAY ITEMS AND COMMENTS.

All Lines Will be Represented in Little Rock, Ark., during the May meeting of the State Pharmaceutical Association. The same week you will find conventions of bankers, politicians, physicians and undertakers. It will, indeed, be a general conference if they all get together under one roof.

Philadelphia Medical Schools and the U. S. Pharmacopoeia.-At an informal conference, called by Prof. Joseph P. Remington of the teachers named below in the medical schools of Philadelphia, the following resolution was passed:

"Resolved, that it is of the utmost importance for accuracy in prescribing, and in the treatment of disease, that students of medicine be instructed fully as to those portions of the United States Pharmacopoeia which are of value to the practitioner, ard that members of the medical profession be urged to prescribe the preparations of that publication, and further, that this resolution be forwarded to the medical and pharmaceutical journals, and to the teachers of medicine and therapeutics in the United States.

James Tyson, M. D., John H. Musser, M. D., John Marshall, M. D., Horatio C. Wood Jr., M. D., H. A. Hare, M. D.. J. W. Holland, M. D., Alfred Stengel, M. D., David L. Edsall, M. D., Seneca Egbert, M. D., M. C. Thrush, M. D., James Wilson M. D., E Q. Thornton, M. D., John V. Shoemaker, M. D., I. Newton Cnively. M. D., J. M. Anders, M. D., S. Solis Cohen, M. D.

Saying it Quick is no Use; the Recording Angel is probably a stenographer.-[POOR RICHARD, JUNIOR.

"PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS."

BY GEORGE W. HAGUE, PH. G., HEMPSTEAD. N. Y.

Making Change.-In giving out change to customers always count it into their hands, and never give it to them in a bunch.

Keeping Gold Pieces.-It is still an old occurrence to hear of juniors or boys, handing out $5.00 and $10.00 gold pieces through erra, for twenty-five and fifty cent pieces. To prevent this unnecessary loss, never place gold pieces in the money drawer with quarters and half dollars, but put all gold pieces in a separate compartment. If you have no compartment which you can use for this purpose, put the gold pieces in with the five and ten dollar bills and wrap and mark them.

Hanging-Shelves.-Are indispensable in the crowded drug store; they are about seven feet above the floor and out of the way, are easily reached, look very good from a distance; in a word they are, utilitarian. These shelves should be suspended from the ceiling by means of small chains and hang a few feet above the show-cases. Hanging-shelves are adapted for such goods as water bags, syringes, bandages, lint, plasters, and in fact anything that is of light weight. See shelf holding packages of cotton in the illustration.

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18 minutes.....To Western City Line.... 6 minutes 6 minutes....To Southern City Line.... 2 minutes 16 minutes.... To Northern City Line... 5 minutes 60 minutes........J. B. Johnson's.......20 minutes This shedule is posted in a conspicuous place behind the prescription counter, and while we do not time each boy, this shedule gives him a good idea that we know how long he should take to run an errand; he also knows that he can not fool us much.

There are many pharmacists who do not care to have their own boy learn this business, but it is a grand thing to break in your own son, even if he does not expect to

follow pharmacy as a vocation, as when you are short of a junior or boy your own son will come in handy for a few days.

Why Homœopathic Medicines are so Powerful.An interesting explanation of the manner in which medicines become more powerful as they are divided and sub-divided is shown in the new Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia and Posology by G. H. Jahr, pub. lished in Philadelphia and New York, in 1842. The author says:

"There are, however, certain substances, whose energy really augments in a sensible manner, as the attenuations advance, and which, often altogether inert in their natural condition, become by this method of preparation, not less active than the most energetic medicines. Such are those substances which, even in the state of the finest powder, have probably their truly active molecules still shut up in a species of envelope, which prevents them from being put into immediate contact with the organs, and which the ordinary means of pulverization and of solution are incapable of destroying. For in rubbing, as ordinarily done, the substances by themselves, the molecules of a powder, already very fine, escape the force which tends to render them finer yet, and it is only in triturating them with another substance, against the corpuscules of which they can be rubbed, that we can succeed in accomplishing an infinite division. But still we shall only arrive at it in a very incomplete way, if, at the same time, we do not take care to spread out as much as possible the newly obtained particles, in proportion as the trituration increases the number, since the more the molecules remain agglomerated one with the other, so much the less will it be easy to divide the whole. This is the reason why many substances frequently do not seem to develop all their virtue till after three successive triturations, made so that each new trituration shall contain the one-thousandth part of the preceding."

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Do Not Fail to keep the old lessons bright, else you will be like the housekeeper who has but one clean room-the one she swept last. Go over the old work constantly, for reviewing makes perfect, perfection encourages and encouragement leads to success.

How Easy it is to forgive an enemy when he is in a position to do you a favor.

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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.

The Cost of Registration in Missouri (39) by examination is $3.00, or $1.00 when registration is made by diploma.

Momea or Mimea (40) is claimed to be made of hemp or cannabis indica and human fat. It is manufactured in Thibet.

Early Issues of the Meyer Brothers Druggist (41). -You can secure back numbers of the early volumes by applying at this office. A few numbers are out of print. Perhaps these can be supplied by the Lloyd Library, Cincinnati.

U. S. P. Assays (42).—We do not feel justified in republishing the list of one hundred and fifty-two official substances which the Pharmacopoeia directs to be assayed. You will find the list beginning on page 569 of the U. S. P. VIII. A copy of this work should be in each drug store.

The Sale of Alcohol and Intoxicating Liquors in Missouri (43).—You cannot sell alcohol nor intoxicating liquors for any purpose whatever without paying the government internal revenue. Druggists can sell intoxicating liquors in quantities less than four gallons on a written prescription dated and signed by some regular registered and practicing physician, when such physician states in such prescription the name of the person for whom the same is prescribed and that such intoxicating liquor is prescribed as a necessary remedy. The first of each month the druggist must file with the county clerk of the county in which he is doing business a list of all-prescriptions containing intoxicating liquors.

"Arbor Saturni” or Lead Tree (44).-Freeman P. Stroup gave the Pa. Ph. A. the following directions:

"Place in a tall jar or wide-mouthed bottle a solution made by dissolving lead acetate (sugar of lead), 4 ozs. in 1 quart of water. This solution may be turbid from the presence of suspended lead carbonate or lead sulphate caused by the presence of impurities in the water used, but it is not necessary to filter it or add any acetic acid to it, as it will clear on standing. Place the vessel where it will not be subject to jars and suspend in it a strip or cylinder of zinc (a battery zinc, such as is used in the ordinary sal ammoniac cell answers the purpose admirably). An abundant growth of crystalline spangles of metallic lead will collect on the zinc."

Elixir Terpini Hydrate (45).—We published formulas for this preparation some years ago, but that was

before a standard formula had a place in the National Formulary. We suggest that you now follow that authority. The N. F. formula is as follows:

ELIXIR TERPINI HYDRATIS.
Elixir of Terpin Hydrate.

Terpin Hydrate in fine powder..
Tincture of Sweet Orange Peel (U. S. P.). 10. Cc.
Solution of Saccharin (N. F.).
Alcohol..

Glycerin..

Syrup (U. S. P.), a sufficient quantity

Ta make

Apothecaries

Metric 17.5 Gm.

256 grains.

150 minims.

J. Cc.

15 minims.

400. Cc. .400. Cc.

13 fluidounces. 13 fluidounces.

1000. Cc. 32 fluidounces. Dissolve the Terpin Hydrate in the alcohol, add the tincture, the solution and the glycerin; then add enough syrup to make 1000 Cc. (or 32 fluidounces). Mix well, and filter, if necessary.

4 Cc. (1 fluidrachm) contain 0.065 Gm. (1 grain) of Terpin Hydrate.

Average dose: 4 Cc. (1 fluidrachm).

The Jumping Bean (46) is nothing new, although it is exceedingly novel and interesting. It is the fruit of a Mexican plant belonging to the natural order euphorbiaceae. (See MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST for 1895, page 483). The natives call the plant arrow herb and it is found particularly plentiful in the states of Sonora and Michroacan (See MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST for 1895, page 325). The bean was announced as far back as 1858 by entomologist Westwood, who named the worm carpocapsa saltitans. This is not, however, the only dancing grub, for similar conditions exist in other fruits inhabited by allied grubs. In fact, the ordinary apple grub is related to the one found in the jumping bean. Enterprising firms "rediscover" the jumping bean and place it on the market as something new. Good specimens will continue to jump from September to May.

Do Not Open a Red Cross Drug Store (47) for a federal law protects the Red Cross Association in the exclusive use of that sign. The law on the subject is as follows:

Section 4. That from and after the passage of this Act it shall be unlawful for any person within the jurisdiction of the United States to falsely and fraudulently hold himself out as, or represent or pretend to be, a member of, or an agent for, the American Red Cross, for the purpose of soliciting, collecting, or receiving money or material; or for any person to wear or display the sign of the Red Cross, or any insignia colored in imitation thereof for the fraudulent purpose of inducing the belief that he is a member of, or an agent for, the American National Red Cross. Nor shall it be lawful for any person or corporation, other than the Red Cross of America, not now lawfully entitled to use the sign of the Red Cross, hereafter to use such sign or any insignia colored in imitation thereof for the purpose of trade or as an advertisement to induce the sale of any article whatsoever, If any person violates the provision of this section, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be liable to a fine of not less than one nor more than five hundred dollars, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both, for each and every offense. The fine so collected shall be paid to the American National Red Cross.

The Missouri Cocaine Law (48).-Yes, such a Law does exsist and it was signed by the Governor, March 7, 1905.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

SECTION 1. It shall not be lawful for any druggist or other

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