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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.

Glycyrrhiza in Arizona.-An early Arizona settler some years ago on land now owned by Frank E. McCrary, of Phoenix, started a few roots of licorice which he had obtained from Sicily. Like the famed "Peach of emeral hue," "it grew and grew" until it bid fair to cover the whole Salt River Valley, and now the native American kid or Mexican Muchacho can dig his own chewing stick.

The Salt River Valley, irrigated under the Roosevelt Dam reclamation project, produces many things besides glycyrrhiza. They raise figs and dates better than Smyrna or Arabia, almonds, olives, Italian (so-called English) walnuts; cumquots and loquots; oranges, tangerines, lemons and grape fruit; grapes of Spain, France and Italy; apricots, nectarines, peaches, loganberries and strawberries and any other berries you can mention, even to juniper berries. I should also name apples and pears and cherries; small grain and large grain, Maize corn and Kaffir Korn and alfalfa, and more alfalfa. Speaking of alfalfa, you will see there fat cattle belly-deep in it and also see horses and mules and ostriches eating alfalfa.

Arizona is a state of wonderful facts and strange contrasts. It is there the camel appears on the list of game animals, but the thirsty Arizonians, in appreciation of his going a long time without water, have him listed under a "continuous closed season." It is unlawful to shoot the camel in Arizona at any time in the year.-[Edward Mitchell.

Pharmacy in the Philippines.-Like all foreign countries pharmacy ranks very high as a profession in the Philippine Islands. Owing to the high educational requirements it is followed by a few. The collegiate course is three years of nine months each. The Philippine law requires that all persons shall register by written examination and so difficult are the examinations that about one out of a class of sixty is successful. To my knowledge two have been successful in the last two years and four months. The subjects are very scientific and far beyond the average pharmacist's knowledge. It being almost impossible for an American to register, owing to the Philippine Board of Pharmacy being composed mostly of natives. The wages in the Philippines are very good, general average about one and twenty-five to two hundred dollars American currency per month.

A knowledge of Spanish is almost a necessity in transaction of business; however, it holds true of all insular possessions of the United States. Phar

macy laws in China and Japan are not so very strict, but similar to some states in America. Crude drugs throughout the Orient are very abundant, as vegetation thrives all the year. Patent medicines are not and never will be very popular in the Philippine Islands. There are many pharmacies established by the Civil Government throughout the island. Most of the pharmacists are in the employ of the Civil Government and are natives under the supervision of an American. To the readers of this article and to all interested in the advancement of Pharmacy I wish to state that the law of the Philippine Islands places pharmacy in such a position that it can never be equalled elsewhere for scientific and research work. [John H. Burns, Ph. G., Manila, P. I., U. S. Division Hospital.

Pharmaceutical Affairs in Manila. The last Legislature presented us with a piece of patch quilt work effort in regard to pharmacy, which is unique and ought to be framed. All of our candidates for examination must now have passed a full high school course in an institution provided by the Government. The Board is directed to prepare a set of questions covering, "All that Knowledge which is required of a Pharmacist." This set is to be published not less than three months before the examination in which it is to be used. Changes can be made effective only after having been published for a like period. The subjects are specified in the law. Here are a few samples of the first set of

questions:

Physics: 1.c.: To what degree of temperature must a mass of gas be raised so that, at the same pressure, its volume is triple that at 0°C.?

2.c.: To what temperature must CO2 be heated so that one liter, at 0.770 mm. pressure, weighs 1.293 gm. (Density of C0 – 1.52, air = 1.)

10.c.: Obtention of pure Ag NO3 from a copper-silver alloy by electrolysis; explain operations.

11.c.: Determination of the hygrometric state of the atmosphere by means of Regnault's hygrometer. Reason and methods of the operation.

15.c. Voltameter; its use; causes which alter the absolute or ledative quantity of the gases given off by the same.

These are only a few out of many, but for the sake of brevity, I spare you the rest. I am reminded of a Spanish proverb which says, "One button is enough for a sample."

The published program breeds phonographs. The candidates have everything except a capacity to practice pharmacy. The Filipinos, like all other Orientals, have a powerful memory. This plan puts a premium on memory against knowledge.

Some may argue that the requirement of two years' practice in a drug store offsets the memory plan. Such is not the case in Manila, where in practically all of the forty drug stores the clerks have little opportunity to learn. They never prepare galenicals nor test anything; in fact they do not have the necessary apparatus for testing. Two-thirds of the prescriptions are for specialties and the rest for synthetics. In many stores the clerks are divided into three groups and each clerk is on duty every day. They work without pay, but get credit for serving full time.

I feel that such legislation degrades instead of

elevates pharmacy. It sets an apparently high standard, but is really a paper sham pasted over with tinsel.-[P. L. Stangel, Manila, P. I.

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One Way of Solving a Knotty Problem.-In varied experience of more than forty years in the drug business it has always seemed strange to me that there should be so much ignorance and neglect of bookkeeping. The keeping of accounts among the retail druggists of all sections of this country is neglected. Pharmacy is a business or profession requiring a much higher order of intelligence and Its education than any other mercantile pursuit. very nature requires close attention to the smallest details, and yet how few there are who are able to tell you at any given time how much they owe, to whom they owe it and when it is due. This subject has been one of frequent comment and discussion with my friends in the business.

I was most agreeably surprised a short time since by a valued customer who had been in the drug business for some twenty years in a southern town of perhaps 4,000, carrying a stock of drugs, paints, wall paper, having a soda fountain, etc., and doing a business of about $35,000 annually. He had made money by close and constant personal attention to his business, yet had for years been neglectful in the keeping of his accounts and generally known to be slow in paying his obligations, yet perfectly good in law. He told me that since the first of January last, he had adopted a new plan. He had found it a continual nuisance to receive almost daily statements, notices of drafts, letters, etc., in reference to the payment of bills. He concluded he would arrange to discount everything. His plan is, all invoices, whether foreign or city, as soon as the goods are received and properly checked and marked, are gone over carefully to detect any possible error in pricing, extension or addition, are O' K'd. and the cash discount indicated. They are placed on a clip file in a drawer of his desk and he makes it a rule every Monday morning to make out checks covering all bills which fall due during that week, thus clearing up in a few minutes' time all that

part of his work for the week. To expedite and simplify matters, he has adapted his letter heads, bill heads and bank checks to the use of the outlook envelopes, thereby saving the time and trouble of addressing his letters. As a further time and labor saver, in having his bank checks printed, he has adopted a secondary stub, which is a condensed form of remittance letter, saving the trouble of writing a letter when remitting. This stub, of course, accompanies the check. I give below rough draft of his check and secondary stub. When folded this fits the outlook envelope, leaving the payee's name and address visible.

He says he is more than pleased and gratified with the result. The saving of the additional cash discount on his annual purchases of $25,000 or more is no inconsiderable sum, the worry and bother of bills coming due and bank drafts being presented is done away with. Besides, he has the satisfaction of knowing that he is up to date and has his deck cleared for action at all times. True, it is hard to keep the necessary funds on hand at all times to do this, but he has arranged with his bankers to borHe gets the row such sums as may be necessary. money at a reasonable interest, which is less than one-half of what he saves in cash discount. Besides it concentrates his liabilities to one place, where it can be closely watched and cared for, in place of Then, too, having it spread over many accounts. his bookkeeping is very much simplified from the fact that he carries no purchase accounts on his ledger, the only entry made being on the cash book When the invoices to "Mdse. Purchase Account." are paid, the total of the merchandise purchase column being posted at the end of the month from the cash book to his Merchandise Purchase Account on the ledger, thus avoiding much work and the possibility of errors in posting, the taking of a trial balance at the end of the month is made much easier.

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I am moved to report this instance from the fact that I believe the adoption of some such simple, will or system prove practical plan of pleasure and profit to many of our friends in the retail drug business.-[W. L. Hardigg.

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to Steelville, Mo. Drug Store Der Sere I saw advertisement in the Crofford County nuse paper dimacrat Ledger paper that you had you kep at Gibbs drug store, a meldecen cal Eitch meidcien would cure the Eitch bye rubbing round the eyes noes and noes and the mouth with the medicon would cure the Eitch. I wont you to rite to me and tell if this is soe or not for I want to know I want you to rite and give me the perticlers of this meadson if you have this kind of meddison I want to get some of the Eitch cuer and give the, give the price of it and if you garentee this meadson to cure the Eitch or not. I want you to rite to me. direct your letter Davisville, Crofford County, Mossury. I hope you will ananser this requist from us. if you have free pakeges of this Eitch cure please to me to Davisville Crofford Co. Mo. from to the proprietor of Steelville

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Drug Store."

U. S. P. Latin.-Liquor Arseni et hydrargyri iodidi or liquor arseni et hydrargyri iodidum. Which is correct? The Pharmacopoeia gives the former. Some claim the latter is the proper title.

COMMENT.-In answer to this inquiry, Professor Otto A. Wall, of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and author of Lessons in Latin replies:

"I would say that in the title Liquor Arseni et Hydrargyri lodidi, the word lodidi should be genitive plural lodidorum, to correspond to U. S. Ph. titles Syrupus Ferri, Quininae et Strychninae Phosphatum, Syrupus Hypophosphitum, etc.

lodidum, 2d decl., lodidi, gen. sing., lodidorum, gen.

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Tartaric Acid, in original packages. Paregoric, in original packages.

Sulphur, in bulk.

Salt Petre, in bulk.

Sugar of Lead, in original packages.
Black Antimony, in bulk.

Potassium, in original packages.

Potassium Chlorate, in original packages. Tincture of Arnica, in original packages. Tincture of Iron, in original packages. Tincture of Iodine, in original packages. Tincture of Ginger, in original packages. Sweet Oil, in bulk.

Witch Hazel, in bulk.

Essence of Peppermint, in original packages.
Oil of Cloves, in original packages.

Oil of Peppermint, in original packages.
Quinine, in original packages

All Insecticides, in original packages, plainly labeled, with the antidotes printed thereon. All Patent and Proprietary Medicines in original packages. Nickeling by Oxidation.-1. According to Henley, nickeling may be performed on all metals, cold, by means of nickelene, by the Mitressy process, without employing electrical apparatus, and any desired thickness deposited. It is said to be more solid than nickel.

First Bath.-Clean the objects and take 5 parts, by weight, of American Potash per 25 parts, by weight, of water. If the pieces are quite rusted, take two parts, by weight, of chlorhydic acid per 1 part, by weight, of water. The bath is employed cold.

Second Bath.-Put 250 parts, by weight, of sulphate of copper in 25,000 parts, by weight, of water. After dissolution add a few drops of sulphuric acid, drop by drop, stirring the liquid with a wooden stick until it becomes as clear as spring water.

Take out the pieces thus cleaned and place them in what is called the copper bath, attaching to them leaves of zinc; they will assume a red tint. Then pass them into the nickeling bath, which is thus composed:

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2. Prepare a bath of neutral zinc chloride and a neutral solution of a nickel salt. The objects are immersed in the bath with small pieces of zinc and kept boiling for some time. This process has given satisfactory results. It is easy to prepare the zinc chloride by dissolving it in hydrochloric acid, as well as a saturated solution of ammoniacal nickel sulphate in the proportion of two volumes of the latter to one of the zinc chloride. The objects should be boiled for fifteen minutes in the bath. Nickel salt may also be employed, preferably in the state of chloride.

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COMMENT.-So far as the latinity of these two prescriptions is concerned, there is no difficulty in compounding.

In the first prescription the subscription has a superfluous M., as there is no mixing to be done, the D. S. only being necessary. This is nothing, however, out of the ordinary method of many prescribers, who put superfluous words or contractions in their subscriptions.

In the second prescription cornutine (the supposed active principle of ergot, also called ecboline) is procurable from Merck's laboratory.

The following statement is taken from "Merck's Index":

Alkaloid from Claviceps purpurea-(Tulasne)

Ergot-Amorphous brownish powder or brownish-black mass. Soluble in hot alcohol, but only slightly soluble in water.

Therapeutic Action.-Internally a hemostaticemmenagougue and genital tonic-used medicinally in the treatment of hemorrhage of the genito-urinary organs.

Paralytic Spermator

Professor Kobert claims it to be the true active principle of ergot. According to Tanret, however, cornutine is a more or less decomposed ergotinine. Dose-1/12 to 1/6 grain-(0.005-0.010 Gm.) given twice daily.

As to Argillae, the second ingredient in this prescription, we give the following synonyms: Kaolin, Argilla, China Clay, Bolus Alba, Terra Alba. It is used as a diluent in pill making of potent substances or easily reducible matters, i. e., potassium permanganate, nitrate of silver, gold chloride, etc. Chemically this substance is chiefly hydrated aluminum silicate.

The excipient in this prescription being glycerin and water, they can be taken in equal parts.

Probably the real difficulty in the way of filling these prescriptions is the interpretation of the directions to go on the label. These are written in Russian, and according to our interpreter, would mean in the first prescription that the fluid extract of golden seal is intended for internal use.

In the second prescription two pills are to be taken daily.

The doctor's signature is also ambiguous and is to read, according to our Russian interpereter, Dr. F. Denner.

Elixir Lactate of Pepsin.-Please publish formula. COMMENT.-At the present time, when this elixir is prescribed, it is intended that the (N. F.) Elixir Digestive Compound shall be given. The formula for which is:

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Mix the acids, glycerin and water, then add the pepsin, pancreatin and diastase. Shake occasionally and let stand until solution results. Now add the rest of the ingredients; mix well with the talcum and filter through a wetted filter and return to filter until it passes through brilliantly clear. N. B.-Select best variety of commercial diastase for above elixir.

PYDONAL. A German proprietary remedy put up in tablet form. It is found to consist of a mixture of acetyl salicylic acid 0.22 Gm.; pyramidon, 0.11 Gm:; starch, milk sugar, and mineral constituents, 0.21 Gm., in each tablet.-[C. Mannich and L. Schwedes (Apoth. Zeit., 1913, 28, 421.)

PURELY PERSONAL

James Hartley Beal, Secretary of the A. Ph. A. and Editor of the Journal, has been made an honorary member of the Pa. Ph. A.

The many friends of Professor O. A. Wall, who broke his arm a few weeks ago, are pleased to learn that the doctor will recover full use of the limb.

Dr. Reid Hunt, chief of the Division of Pharmacology, U. S. Public Health and Marine Hospital Service since 1904, is now professor of Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Hunt is an active member of the A. Ph. A.

Miss Mary A. Fein, who has become known as the model secretary, on account of her long and successful service as secretary of the Ark. Ph. A., is a prize winner in whatever she undertakes. Miss Fein recently won first prize in a newspaper subscription contest and was presented with a $1350.00 touring car. The prize carries with it an extended trip, during which all expenses are paid by the newspaper. Edwin G. Cox, Craig, has recently been appointed a member of the Missouri board of pharmacy, for a term expiring August 16, 1917. He was born at Weston, Platte County, Mo., May 11, 1866, attended the Platte Academy, the state military academy, at Lexington, Ky., La Grange College, Mo., Boston University, Mass., also one term at Rush Medical College, Chicago. During vacations, he clerked from the time he was eighteen until twentyone years of age. Mr. Cox

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EDWIN G. COX.

then entered pharmacy as a profession, has been in the drug business at St. Joseph, Mo., for three years, then moved to Craig, his present location.

ST. LOUIS LOCALS

The St. Louis College of Pharmacy will open October 7.

E. M. Pirner contributed $100.00 to the Baptist Sanitarium Fund, and his name stands high on the list of those raising $46,000.00.

The delegates from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy to the American Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties were J. M. Good, H. M. Whelpley, and Otto F. Claus.

NEED OF GOOD PRE-MEDICAL EDUCATION Recognized Thirteen Hundred Years Ago.-"For a medical man should know the ars rhetorica, that he may be able to support with sound arguments the matters which he deals with; and also the ars dialectica, so that by the exercise of reason he may investigate the causes of sickness for the purposes of cure."-[Isidorus Hispalensis, Bishop of Seville, 600 A. D.

PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATIONS

The South Dakota Ph. A. held its annual meeting at Sioux Falls, August 13, 14 and 15. Over 300 were present. Professor J. P. Remington was the guest of honor. Many practical papers were read and discussed. Governor Byrne gave a particularly interesting address touching on pharmacy in a practical manner.

A joint meeting was held with the physicians of the city and addresses made by both pharmacists and physicians.

The Travelers' Auxiliary looked after the entertainment.

Henry Sasse, of Henry, and L. E. Higley, of Hot Springs, were elected delegates to the A. Ph. A. The annual election of officers resulted as follows: President-Henry Schaidt, Parkston.

First Vice President-Mrs. H. R. Kenaston, Bonesteel.
Second Vice President-Miss May Carroll, Aberdeen.
Secretary-E. C. Bent, Dell Rapids.
Treasurer A. A. Woodward, Aberdeen.

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N. F. Masterson, formerly of Oran, has bought out the Bertrand Drug Co., of Bertrand.

H. Cox reports the drug business slack at Richards, but looks for a good fall and winter trade.

D. B. Hobson, formerly of Licking, is now pleasantly located with Day's Pharmacy, Summersville.

C. M. Davis, Ph. G, is in business at Laredo, where he has been located since October 1, 1912, and is anxious to hear from his classmates.

E. R. Bogan, Ph. G., formerly of Hayti, has purchased the store of the Driver Drug Co., at Luxora, Ark., and will conduct the business under the name of Bogan's Pharmacy.

The Mo. Ph. A. was represented in the House of Delegates of the A. Ph. A. this year by William Mittelbach, Boonville, Charles E. Zinn, Kansas City, and Dr. H. M. Whelpley, St. Louis.

O. W. Burcham is the new proprietor of the drug store at Gorin, owned for twenty years by James Piper, who traded both store and building for a large farm near Memphis, Mo. Mr. Piper, however, will continue to manage the business as he has for twenty years past.

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