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. Hospital Stewards in the Navy.-It may be of some interest to the readers of MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST, and especially to the younger members of the profession who are thinking of entering the service, to hear something relating to the position and duties of a hospital steward in the navy. The writer has been in the service about two years and is at present attached to the U. S. S. "Denver," which is a ship of the protected cruiser class, built by Neopie & Leavy, of Philadelphia, and placed in commission there May 17, 1904. Her complement consists of three hundred and forty officers and men. The hospital corps aboard of her includes a hospital steward, hospital apprentice, first class, and a hospital apprentice. The hospital apprentices act as nurses; they receive thirty and twenty dollars a month respectively. The hospital steward, who is the ship's apothecary, is paid sixty dollars a month and a monthly ration allowance of nine dollars, which is usually commuted and put in the chief petty officer's mess with an additional five dollars. The hospital steward is an enlisted man and ranks as a chief petty officer, which is the highest rate in the enlisted force. His next promotion is to the grade of pharmacist. A pharmacist is a warrant officer; warrant officers are appointed by the president for life and retire at sixty-two years of age. Their pay is from twelve to eighteen hundred dollars a year. A hospital steward's term of enlistment is four years and he cannot leave the service before the expiration of his term except for physical disability. The present law governing the hospital corps of the navy provides for but twenty-five pharmacists, which is entirely inadequate, as the law requires that all promotions to the grade of pharmacist must be from men holding the rate of hospital steward, and with two hundred and fifty hospital stewards in the service, the promotion is naturally very slow. The recent promotions to the grade of pharmacist have been made from hospital stewards averaging about ten years service. The title hospital steward as applied to us is a misnomer, it has no relation whatever to our duties and is a result of the hospital corps reorganization law that went into effect in 1898; previous to that time we were known officially as apothecaries; our duties now are precisely the same as they were then. The change was probably made because of the possible complication with that of pharmacist, the two being somewhat synonymous. Pharmacy as practiced in the navy approaches the ideal, the manufacturing of preparations is, however, very limited, but there is no soda fountain to contend with, no foreign side lines of confectionery and cigars, and that bugbear, the stamp customer, is wanting. The prescribing is generally very simple, such remedies as potassium iodide, sodium salicylate, quinine sulphate and the preparations of mercury are administered alone and not in combination with other drugs, nor are they disguised with pleasant vehicles. Complex prescriptions are rarely given. Fluid extracts, tinctures, liniments, pills, plasters, tablets, etc., are supplied to the ships, ready for use, from the large laboratories at New York and Man Island, Cal. In addition to his professional duties the hospital steward has to do all the clerical work for the medical department aboard ship, this consists of keeping records of patients, the making of quarterly reports of sick to the department, statistical reports and requisitions for medical supplies. The daily routine takes up but little time, I rise about 6:30 in the morning and have breakfast at 7:30, at 8 the patients line up at the dispensary for their medicine. Sick call commences about 9 and is usually over about 9:30; treatment is again given at 1 and 6:30 p. m. The intervening time may be devoted to clerical work, reading or experiments. The dispensary on this ship is about ten feet square and seven and one-half feet high, the prescription counter has numerous drawers of various sizes, and four tiers of shelving with one hundred and fifty glass stoppered dispensing bottles with recessed glass labels, ranging in capacity from one hundred to five hundred cubic centimeters, and a good Troemner balance in a glass case. There are hot and cold water, steam heat and electric lights. There is a bunk with large drawers underneath, a disk closet and book case, the only books furnished are a dispensatory and works on anatomy, surgery and hygiene. We are frequently called upon to make examinations of urine and water, and for this kind of work all ships are supplied with test cases containing beakers, flasks, test tubes, bunettes, pipettes, spirit lamp, water bath, centrifuge, etc., and a good supply of reagents. We are also supplied with a Bausch & Lomb microscope, with Abbe condenser, mechanical stage and three objectives. Should a man feel so inclined, he has plenty of time, apparatus, and material to follow a course of study along chemical or microscopical lines. There are, of course, some drawbacks to the life; long monotuous voyages, rough weather and being away from civilization for long periods, but there are many interesting and novel features to a life at sea and one can enjoy as happy and peaceful an existence aboard ship as ashore if he can but adopt himself to conditions as he finds them.-[WM. F. SHERIDAN, hospital steward, U. S. S. Denver. If You Dispense preparations made according to the old Pharmacopoeia after August 1, you are legally re sponsible for any accidents that occur. Many changes have been made in the strength of preparations. EDITORIAL COMMENT. the city of New Orleans between Christmas and New Year. This association has about 4,500 members, and it is estimated that there will be at least 900 or 1,000 A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all delegates at the fifty-fifth annual meeting. The assoour readers. Only Nine Months to the Indianapolis, Ind., meeting of the A. Ph. A., September 3, 1906. How Many Medical Journals Will Do Likewise?— In a prominent place on the first editorial page and in large black face type we find the following announcement in the California State Journal of Medicine for October: "Every practicing physician should have a copy of the United States Pharmacopoeia, 8th Decennial Revision." He Must Show Us.-The daily press reports that an Englishman has discovered a process whereby the yield of flour from wheat, and bread from flour, is greatly increased. This sounds very much like the Black Pepsin fraud which was on the market a few years ago. Black Pepsin was supposed to increase the yield of butter from milk. The Public and the Pharmacopoeia. The sensational newspapers are giving the public an idea that the new Pharmacopoeia has unwarrantably changed the strength of important medicines, and that it is no longer safe to have a prescription filled. Here is an opportunity for the A. Ph. A. Committee on Publicity to the public press to do some good missionary work. Will They Balance Conditions?-From Ohio comes a wail of complaint that drug clerks are scarce. the same time, we receive the announcement that the board of pharmacy has been given the power to revoke certificates of registration. Perhaps in this manner the board of pharmacy can reduce the number of drug stores until those remaining can be furnished with clerks from the market supply. At Expressions From All Branches of the drug trade are contained in the department of Ourselves As Others See Us. The MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST is published in the interest of the entire drug trade. The retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, clerks, teachers, editors, authors, chemists and every branch of the pharmaceutical calling find something of value in our columns. We give space in this issue to a few of the many hundreds of similar communications received at this office. Photo-Micrographs Not Micro-Photographs.—In the Scientific American for November 11, 1905, page 376, will be found an interesting article by D. R. Winslow, entitled, "Interesting Micro-Photographs Obtained Without Costly Apparatus." The author then proceeds to give in a very practical manner instructions for making photo-micrographs with a twenty-five-cent microscope. Photo-micrographs are photographs of microscopic objects. Micro-photographs are microscopic photographs. The Annual Convention of the American Association for the Advancement of Science will be held in ciation is composed of scientists and learned men from all parts of the country, and has for president Professor C. M. Woodward, of St. Louis. L. O. Howard is secretary, with headquarters in Washington. Fire Insurance is as necessary in a drug store as in any other line of business. In fact, fire insurance companies charge a higher rate for drugs, on the supposition that the loss from fire will be proportionately large. This argues the necessity of being well insured. The mutual fire insurance companies limited to drug stocks are at the present time attracting considerable attention, and they will have at least one good effect. That is the awakening of the drug trade to the necessity of carrying good-sized policies. What is more, an insurance policy should be carefully recorded and promptly renewed. Remember that a fire is most likely to occur a few hours after your policy has expired. At least, so we have been told by those who have reason to believe that such is the case. is about one-third Thus, the dose is Tinctura Nucis Vomicæ, U. S. P., Eighth Revision contains one-tenth of one per cent strychnine. The tincture of the previous revision was directed to contain three-tenths of one per cent of total alkaloids (strychnine and brucine). The proportion of strychnine to brucine in nux vomica varies considerably, so it is difficult to compare the strychnine strength of the new tincture with that made according to the old Pharmacopoeia. We can say, however, that those authorities and critics who are stating that the new tincture is only one-half as strong as the old, are mistaken. According to the National Standard Dispensatory, just issued, the new tincture weaker than the tincture of 1890." not materially changed, as tincture of nux vomica is usually prescribed in minimum doses at the beginning and gradually increased until the desired physiological effect is obtained. The change of basis of valuation from total alkaloids to strychnine was made or account of the generally accepted belief that strychnine is the essential medicinal constituent of nux vomica. The fluid extract, or as we now say, fluidextractum nucis vomica contains one per cent of strychnine and consequently is just ten times as strong as the tincture. The solid extract now contains five per cent of strychnine. Physicians desiring to prescribe in the old system of weights and measures may remember that one fluidram of tincture of nux vomica now represents practically one-eighteenth of a grain of strychnine, In criticizing the new Pharmacopœia, it is necessary to carefully study the volume. One of our exchanges thought it was a mistake to dismiss carbolic acid from the Pharmacopoeia. The editor failed to observe that it is only the title which is dismissed and that the same carbolic acid now appears under the title" phenol." 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. Board of Pharmacy Regulations (129).—These rules change so frequently that it is impossible to prepare a synopsis which will be up to date for more than a few days' time. The best you can do is to write the secretary of each board in which you are interested. The Highest Temperature (130) existing on or in this earth has perhaps not as yet been measured but a temperature of 5,000° F. has been obtained by means of the electric furnace. Previous to the discovery of this means of generating heat the oxyhydrogen blow pipe with its heat of 3,600° F. was considered the maximum. The ordinary blast furnace in iron melts at a heat of 2,400° F., while the special Bessemer furnace maintains a heat of fully 3,000° F. It Depends Upon Circumstances (131).—What is usually figured as a net percentage of profit in the wholesale drug trade? Answer. It depends upon circumstances and, as far as we can judge, varies in the wholesale trade as it does in the retail trade. Judging from the number of jobbers who dispose of their business and the small number now in business compared to a generation ago, the profit in the wholesale trade must be small. Will the Dog Come Back (132)?—I am told that some substance can be used which, when placed on dogs and other strange animals visiting a place, will cause them to go away and not return. A farmer told me that it was carbureted hydrogen, but I am unable to obtain such an article. Answer. Bisulphide of carbon has been used for the purpose mentioned. Just how effectual it is depends upon the nature of the dog and the attraction which the place has for him. The Detection of Renovated Butter (133).—This is a subject requiring more space than we can give in this department. You will find detailed information by writing to Dr. H. W. Wiley, Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry, and asking for Circular No. 19, revised. It gives the following careful information: The melting test, the boiling test, with the use of a test tube and by using a spoon, a microscopic examination, the water-house test, modified, and then follows a summary of the different tests. A Prescription With Something More Than Water (134) has been received from the J. J. Powers Drug Co., Athens, Tex. We are informed that it was compounded and a proper price paid for it. The question now is what use could be made of such a mixture. The Melting Test for Butter (135) is not as decisive as you imagine. The Association of Official Agricultural Chemists give the following directions: "Put some of the butter in a test tube or narrow beaker and heat in the boiling water oven or, to obtain the clearest possible results with rancid butter, in an oven at 60° to 70° C. Observe after one-half hour to one hour. Renovated butter always melts turbid, while fresh genuine butters that have not been melted, mixed or ladled melt with a clear fat-with the following exceptions: Some rancid butters melt with a cloudy or sometimes even a turbid fat, and (as only recently observed) some sweet cream butters, especially unsalted ones, melt with a cloudy or even a very turbid fat, as turbid as that of a renovated butter. Perhaps any unsalted butter will behave in this way— time has not allowed of settling this point. "In making this test the tubes must not be shaken after the melting has begun; such treatment would cause any butter to melt with a cloudy or, more likely, a turbid fat. "In reporting results by this test use the term "cloudy" (little or very) in describing fats that are not perfectly clear but are still transparent, and the term "turbid" for those still further removed from the clear condition." Prescribing Diastase and Pancreatin (136).—Can these two medicines be combined? What is the dose of each? Can they be prescribed in solution? Answer. Diastase and pancreatin are often prescribed together: The pulvis pepsini compositus of the National Formulary contains pepsin, 15%; pancreatin, 15%; diastase, 1%. It is best given in capsules, the dose being up to ten grains. For a solution of pancreatin use the liquor pancreaticus of the National Formulary. Each fluid dram represents one grain of pancreatin. The digestive ferments are prescribed in doses ranging from one to ten, or even twenty grains. The real therapeutic value of pepsin, pancreatin and diastase is, no doubt, much overrated. This is especially true when they are recklessly prescribed without regard to their physiological action. Pepsin requires an acid medium in order to exert its influence on proteids. Pancreatin acts with an alkaline medium, while diastase exerts its influence in a slightly alkaline or neutral medium. Thus, you will see that it is not logical to combine them even in a capsule. Practicing physicians will find the National Formulary, of which a new edition will soon be on the market, a very useful volume for reference in prescription work. REPORT ON NEW REMEDIES. TO THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION: Your committee herewith submits a list of the new remedies introduced since June, 1904.-[THOMAS J. KEENAN, chairman. (Continued from page 339.) Cholelithmin is a weak alcoholic solution of the fresh bile of animals which have been fed with recent biliary secretion. It is stated to be practically a dilute alcoholic solution of salts of the bile acids and of albuminoids, and is recommended in the treatment of biliary colic. Made at Marpmann Institute, Leipzig. Citon Tablets, recommended as purgatives, are put up in two forms, white and brown, the white consisting of 0.1 gm. paraphthalein, 0.5 gm. sugar and 0.01 gm. menthol, and the brown, paraphthalein, 0.1 gm.; sugar, 0.5 gm.; vanillin, 0.002 gm., and chocolate, 0.1 gm. Manufactured by G. Stambach, Colmar, Germany. Citramine Oxyphenylate is said to be a mixture of equal parts of hetralin (resorcin-hexamethylene-tetramine) and helmitol (anhydro-methylene citric acid hexamethylene-tetramine. Citronal Pills contain, in 100, 0.5 gm. quinine hydrochloride, 10 gm. citric acid, 6 gm. extract frangula and 4 gm. extract of whortleberry leaf. Recommended in gout, rheumatism, etc. Made at the Bavaria Laboratory, Munich. Cod Liver Oil Substitutes are made, according to a patent taken out by K. F. Tollner, Bremen, Germany, by the following process: Certain kinds of marine algaceous plants-i. e.,seaweeds and the like, such as Laminaria digitata Laminaria saccharina, Fucus serratus, Fucus vesiculosis, which are rich in iodine, are dried, and, after cutting them into pieces, roasted. They are then finely pulverized and the powder immediately mixed with a suitable fatty oil or oils, preferably sesame oil, peanut oil, or their equivalents. After about a week, during which period the mixture is repeatedly shaken, the liquid parts of the mixture are separated from the solid ones by filtration or otherwise. The resulting oil is again filtered and is then ready for use. The proportions are one part by weight of algaceous plants to nine parts by weight of oil. Where the structure of the plants is somewhat close it is of advantage to first mix the powder with alcohol-preferably equal in weight to the weight of said powder-and to add the oil after the expiration of some days. The alcohol may be removed from the oil afterward by slightly heating same. Codesol is a syrup of guaiacol with codeine. Ten gm. of the syrup contain, guaiacol, 0,2 gm., and codeine, 0.02 gm. The dose for adults is a teaspoonful three or four times daily. It is prepared by C. Hermann, Basel, Switzerland. Colalin, which is described as the active principle of bile, is an amorphous white powder of intensely bit ter taste. It is said to be insoluble in the acid contents of the stomach, but soluble in the alkaline contents of the upper intestine. It is recommended in the treatment of jaundice, gall stones, etc. Made and marketed by the Rufus Crowell Co., Somerville, Mass. Collaurin is the trade name for colloidal gold, a preparation which is administered internally in the treatment of cancer, syphilis and scrofulous conditions. Made by Chemische Fabrik von Heyden, RadebeulDresden, Germany. Colchicine, a pure alkaloid of colchium, has been recently introduced into medicine by Sharp & Dohme, Baltimore. Convulsin consists of a specially prepared fluid extract of eucalyptus mixed with syrup of vanilla, which is put up by E. B. Kowalewski, Berlin, and recommended in the treatment of coughs and diseases of the respiratory organs. Corticin is announced as a new name for the caffeinequinine compound known as basicin. Manufactured by the Stag Pharmacy (Hirsch Apotheke, Altona, Germany. Copper Aseptol is another name for copper sulphocarbolate. Cornutol is the proprietary name for a concentrated, permanent and aseptic preparation of ergot of rye put up by the H. K. Mulford Co., Philadelphia, for hypodermic and general use. The following claims for cornutol are made by the makers: (1) It contains all of the effective principles of ergot of rye, and is absolutely pure and therapeutically active; (2) it is free from fat and all substances which irritate and cause abscesses, and is aseptic; (3) it does not produce nausea, when administered by the mouth, and may be given in repeated doses without cumulative effect; (4) it is a staple product, not being affected by age or temperature; (5) it is the most eligible of all preparations of ergot for hypodermic use, since it is freely soluble in water and the solution remains perfectly clear; (6) it is highly concentrated, 1 mimim representing 2 grains of the best Spanish ergot; (7) its therapeutic effect can always be relied upon, since it is carefully assayed and standardized, both chemically and physiologically. The dose is, hypodermically, 5 to 30 minims (or 1-3 to 2 Cc.); by the mouth, 10 to 30 minims, or 2-3 to 2 Cc. Cornutol is furnished in oneounce vials, and in hermetically sealed aseptic bulbs, each bulb containing 2 Cc. (30 minims). Cotargit is a double salt of cotarine hydrochloride and ferric chloride which forms ruby red crystals having a melting point of 101 to 105 degrees C. It possesses strong hæmostatic properties. Cupridol is the name used to designate a one per cent solution of mercuric iodide oil, which is used hypodermically in the treatment of syphilis. [To be Continued.] Five Feet and eight inches is supposed to be the proper height for an average man. ARMY HOSPITAL CORPS. BY JULIUS LEIBLINGER, SERGEANT, FIRST CLASS, HOSPITAL CORPS UNITED STATES ARMY, WASHINGTON BARRACKS, D. C. Correspondence for this department is solicited. Army Hospital Corps Review Questions. Materia Medica. 1. What is the proper strength of a solution of morphine sulphate for hypodermic use, and how much of the solution is considered an ordinary dose? 2. Give difference in the caustic action of the following: potassa, silver nitrate, copper sulphate, nitric acid, phenol, arsenic. 3. What is aromatic sulphuric acid? Give its composition, medicinal uses and average dose. 4. How do apomorphine and ipecac differ from each other in their emetic properties? 5. Name the preparations of cantharides on the medical supply table. Classify them according to their medical action. 6. How and when would you administer the following: creosote, pilocarpine hydrochlorate, mustard, amyl nitrite, magnesium sulphate? 7. Define soporifics, sudorifics, analgesics, escharotics, vesicants. 8. Administering strychnine sulphate, atropine sulphate, what symptoms would indicate cumulative action? 9. Mention all the preparations of mercury which are used externally. Give their composition and mode of administration. 10. What is idiosyncrasy? Pharmacy. 1. Define evaporation, distillation, sublimation. 2. What do you understand by fractional distillation? Destructive distillation? 3. Name two medicines made by evaporation, two by destructive distillation, one by fractional distillation, one by sublimation. 4. In what class of substances would you use the following as solvents: water, alcohol, glycerin, ether? 5. What do you understand under simple solution, chemical solution, saturated solution? 6. Give two examples to each of the above solutions. 7. Give the usual official strength of glycerites, and give examples. 8. How could you dissolve the following substances in water: Iodine, salicylic acid, quinine sulphate, camphor? 9. What is an infusion, decoction, fluidextract, syrup? 10. How would you prepare lime water, collodion? Sergeant, First-Class, Franc Luve, H. C. U. S. Army, with the Russian Army in Manchuria. Life's Little Tragedies. When Mary tried to light her lamp It would not burn, and so She sought the druggist's shop to buy (C2H5) HO. What cruel fate may lie in wait For us none can foretell, And on the very steps she met An old Na C1, Who, at the sight of her exclaimed: "O'er many a stormy sea, 'Tis destiny that to your side My footsteps have Pb. "Sail with me for the voyage of lifeMy second mate you'll be." "O sir," she said, and hung her head, "Of course I have been wooed before The sailor laughed a mocking laugh: He cried and fled: "You won't want me- O, what was life to Mary, then? -[Monthly Magazine. Would You Mistrust Seidlitz Powders?-A druggist recently received the following order: "Say, I wish you would tell me what them powders are. We had one of the oflist times giving Aint Mary one of them. It ran over the glass and ran over the bed. I want to know what they are called." |