dumping pit, and thrown on their side. The residue is cleaned out, and the hot pot, being again gripped by the tongs, is taken back to the furnace. On its way, the charge of alkali and reducing material is thrown in. It is again placed on the lift and raised in position against the edges of the cover. The time consumed in making the change is 1 minutes, and it only requires about seven minutes to draw, empty, recharge, and replace the five crucibles in each furnace. In this manner, the crucibles retain the greater amount of their heat, so that the operation of reduction and distillation now only requires one hour and ten minutes. Each of the four furnaces, of five crucibles each, when in operation, are drawn alternately, so that the process is carried on night and day.

Attached to the protruding hollow arm from the cover are the condensers, which are of a peculiar pattern specially adapted to this process, being quite different from those formerly used. They are about 5 inches in diameter and nearly 3 feet long, and have a small opening in the bottom about 20 inches from the nozzle. The bottom of these condensers is so inclined that the metal condensed from the vapor issuing from the crucible during reduction flows down and out into a small pot placed directly below this opening. The uncondensed gases escape from the condenser at the further end, and burn with the characteristic sodium flame. The condensers are also provided with a small hinged door at the further end, by means of which the workmen from time to time may look in to observe how the distillation is progressing. Previous to drawing the crucibles from the furnace for the purpose of emptying and recharging, the small pots, each containing the distilled metal (on an average about 6 lbs.), are removed, and empty ones substituted.

The temperature of the furnaces is kept at 1,000° C., and the gas and air valves are carefully regulated so as to maintain as even a temperature as possible. A furnace in operation requires 250 lbs. of caustic soda every one hour and ten minutes, and yields in the same time 30 lbs. of sodium and about 240 lbs. of crude carbonate of soda. The residual carbonate, on treatment with lime in the usual manner, yields two-thirds of the original amount of caustic soda operated upon.

2. Chlorine Manufacture.

The usual method is employed. The gas is led into four gasometers, each of which is capable of holding 1,000 cubic feet of gas and is completely lined with lead, as are all connecting mains, etc.

3. Manufacture of Double Chloride of Aluminium and Sodium.

Twelve large regenerative gas furnaces are used for heating, and in each of these are fixed horizontal fire-clay retorts about 10 feet in length, into which the mixture for making the double chloride is placed. These furnaces have been built in two rows, six on a side, the clear passage-way down the centre of the building, which is about 250 feet long, being 50 feet in width. Above this central passage is the staging carrying the large lead mains for the supply of chlorine coming from the gasometers. Opposite each retort, and attached to the main, are situated the regulating valves, connected with lead and earthenware pipes, for the regulation and passage of the chlorine to each retort. The valves are of peculiar design, and have been so constructed that the chlorine is made to pass through a certain depth of liquid, which not only by opposing a certain pressure allows a known quantity of gas to pass in a given time, but also prevents any return from the retort into the main.

The mixture for the retorts is made by grinding together hydrate of alumina, salt, and charcoal moistened with water, and by means of a pug mill the mass is forced out into solid cylindrical lengths; a workman with a large knife cuts the material into lengths of about 3 inches each. These are then piled on top of the large furnaces to dry. The retorts, when at the proper temperature, are charged by throwing in the balls until quite full; the fronts are then sealed up, and the charge allowed to remain undisturbed for about four hours, during which time the water of the alumina hydrate is completely expelled. At the end of this time, the valves on the chlorine main are opened, and the gas is allowed to pass into the charged retorts. In the rear of each retort, and connected therewith by means of an earthenware pipe, are the condenser boxes, which are built in brick. These boxes are provided with doors, and also with earthenware pipes, connected with a small flue for carrying off the uncondensed vapors to the large chimney. At first the chlorine passed into each retort is all absorbed by the charge, and only carbonic oxide escapes into the open boxes, where it burns. After a certain time, however, dense fumes are evolved, and the boxes are then closed, while the connecting pipe between the box and the small flue serves to carry off the uncondensed vapors to the chimney.

The reaction which takes place is as follows:

Al2O3 + 2NaCl + 3C + 6C1 = 2AICI,NaCl + 3CO. The chlorine is passed in for about seventy-two hours in varying quantity, the boxes at the back being opened from

time to time by the workmen to ascertain the progress of the distillation. At the end of the time mentioned, the chlorine valves are closed and the boxes at the back of the furnace are thrown open. The crude double chloride, as distilled from the retorts, condenses in the connecting pipe and trickles down into the boxes, where it solidifies in large, irregular masses. The yield from a bench of five retorts will average from 1,600 to 1,800 lbs., which is not far from the theoretical quantity. After the removal of the crude chloride from the condenser boxes, the retorts are opened at their charging end, and the residue is remixed in certain proportions with fresh material to be used over again. The furnace is immediately recharged and the same operations repeated, so that from each furnace upwards of 3,500 lbs. of chloride are obtained weekly.

4. Aluminium. Reduction of the Double Chloride by Sodium.

This is effected in a large reverberatory furnace, having an inclined hearth about 6 feet square, the inclination being towards the front of the furnace, through which are several openings at different heights. The pure chloride is ground together with cryolite in about the proportions of two to one, and is then carried to a staging erected above the reducing furnace. The sodium, in large slabs or blocks, is run through a machine similar to an ordinary tobacco-cutting machine, where it is cut into small thin slices; it is then transferred to the staging above the reducing furnace. Both materials are now thrown into a large revolving drum, where they become thoroughly mixed. The drum being opened and partially turned, the contents drop out into a car on a tramway directly below. The furnace having been raised to the desired temperature, the dampers of the furnace are all closed to prevent the access of air, the heating gas also being shut off. The car is then moved out on the roof of the furnace until it stands directly over the centre of the hearth. The furnace roof is provided with large hoppers, and through these openings the charge is introduced as quickly as possible. The reaction takes place almost immediately, and the whole charge quickly liquefies. At the end of a certain time, the heating gas is again introduced and the charge kept at a moderate temperature for about two hours. At the end of this period, the furnace is tapped by driving a bar through the lower opening, which has previously been stopped with a fire-clay plug, and the liquid metal run out in a silver stream into moulds placed below the opening. From each charge, composed of about 1,200 lbs. of double chloride, 600 lbs. of cryolite, and 350 lbs. of sodium, about 115 to 120 lbs. of aluminium are obtained. The composition of the metal, as shown by analysis, is 99.2 aluminium, 0.3 silicon, and 0.5 iron.

Eight or nine charges are laid on one side, and then melted down in the furnace to make a uniform quality, the liquid metal, after a good stirring, being drawn off into moulds. These large ingots, weighing about 60 lbs. each, are sent to the casting shop, there to be melted and cast into ordinary pigs, or other shapes, as may be required for the making of tubes, sheets, or wire, or else used directly for making alloys of either copper or iron.

A New Sensitive Ink.

A COMMUNICATION bas recently been made to the Academy of Sciences by M. Péchard which those on the outlook for a novelty may turn to account at once. It relates to the peculiar physical properties of oxalomolybdic acid, which is an acid obtained by adding molybdic acid almost to saturation to a hot solution of oxalic acid. The liquid becomes syrupy, and on evaporation yields crystals of oxalomolybdic acid, C.H2O.. MoO3. H.O. The acid is almost totally insoluble in strong nitric acid, but dissolves in cold water, more rapidly on warming, yielding a colorless and strongly acid liquid. It forms well-defined salts. The strange thing about the acid is that when the crystals are dry they may be preserved unchanged either in sunshine or in the dark; but if moist they quickly become colored blue when exposed to the sun's rays. If characters be written on paper with the solution, they remain invisible in a weak light; but when exposed to sunshine they rapidly become visible, turning to a deep indigo color. This only happens when the solution is spread over paper or other surfaces, for the solution itself may be kept unaltered in the bottle for any length of time, except for a trace of blue at the edge of the meniscus, where, by surface action, a little is spread against the interior glass walls. If a sheet of paper be immersed in a saturated solution of the acid, dried in the dark, and then exposed behind an ordinary photographic negative, a very sharp print in blue may be obtained by exposure to sunlight for about ten minutes. The color instantly disappears in contact with water, so that if a piece of this sensitized paper be wholly exposed to sunlight, one may write in white upon the blue ground by using a pen dipped in water. If, however, the paper with its blue markings be exposed to a gentle heat for a few minutes, the blue changes to black, and the characters are then no longer destroyed by water.-Chem. and Drugg.

[The original paper of M. Péchard is published in the Comptes Rendus, etc., vol. 108, p. 1052.-ED. AM. DRUGG.]

Address all communications relating to the business of the AMERICAN DRUGGIST, such as subscriptions, advertisements, change of Post-Office address etc., to WILLIAM WOOD & Co., 56 and 58 Lafayette Place, New York City, to whose order all postal money orders and checks should be made payable. Communications intended for the Editor should be addressed in care of the Publishers.

The AMERICAN DRUGGIST is issued in the latter part of each month, dated for the month ahead. Changes of advertisements should reach us before the 10th. New advertisements can occasionally be inserted after the 18th. Regular ADVERTISEMENTS according to size, location, and time. Special rates on application.

EDITORIAL.

THE HE Society of the German Apothecaries of the City of New York has made a praiseworthy new departure by adopting an amendment to their by-laws, according to which a special committee, in conjunction with the president, is charged with the duty of taking cognizance of any actions at law that may be brought against a member of the Society, and to see that the legal adviser of the Society is duly informed of the matter and the facts in connection therewith. All resulting legal expenses will be borne by the Society, excepting in cases where an accused member has been guilty of a positive dereliction of duty. In such a case, the Society will take no action.

It is notorious that the number of frivolous charges against apothecaries for supposed errors committed in dispensing has increased of late years. No dispensing apothecary is safe from such attacks, which generally are instigated by ignorant, illiterate, or misinformed persons. In some cases, it is true, the frivolity of the charges, nay, even their ridiculousness, is clearly brought out when it comes to a trial-if it comes so far. But what is to recompense the accused party for the vexation, annoyance, loss of reputation and patronage, and expenses? Surely an acquittal, however welcome it may be, is no equivalent. Though it may not deter designing persons hereafter from maliciously prosecuting members of the pharmaceutical profession, it will at least make the burden of the defence -if it be an honest one-lighter to bear by making every member of the Society bear a share of the expense. It is merely a sort of insurance association against unjust and expensive legal prosecutions.

It is probably known to most of our readers that many of the harpies who make these attacks do not expect or want the cases to be brought to a trial, as they are aware of the weakness of their cause. But they expect that the accused will make a handsome compromise, preferring to lose a round sum of money privately than to have his name bandied about in public and have legal expenses besides. It is this class of persons that must be chiefly guarded against. And members of the Society should make it an invariable rule and principle never to listen to any proposition for compromise. They should even go further. When they have successfully gained their case, they should strike back, if at all feasible under the circumstances, and sue the accuser for damages for defamation of character.

UR attention has been called to the fact that the func

OUR offertione of the Digest of the feces on the func

Pharmacopoeia," published by the Committee of Revision and Publication, is in some quarters misunderstood. Probably the preface had not been carefully read. The “Digest" does not contain any criticisms or recommendations by the members of the Committee of Revision in their official capacity, but it was intended to gather up from the pharmaceutical and medical literature printed since 1883 whatever appeared to have some useful bearing upon the Pharmacopoeia, with a view towards its improvement. It does not follow, therefore, that because the "Digest" has scarcely any notes on Oleoresins (for example), the Committee of Revision would not have had something to say about these. But this was not the object. If an attempt had been made to gather the individual comments of the members of the Committee, and to print them in connection with quotations from existing literature, it would have been impossible to publish any portion of the "Digest" previous to the next pharmacopoeial convention, and possibly it could not have been published at all within any period at which it could have been of use.

In this connection it may be announced that Part II. of the "Digest" is now passing through the press, and will be sent free of charge to all those persons and societies who received Part I. in the same manner. The number of copies remaining of Part I. is sufficiently large to permit additional copies to be sent to those who may require them, under the rules printed in the inside of the cover.

The Swiss Pharmacopoeia Revision Commission assembled for the first time, in Berne, on May 2d last, under the presidency of Professor Schär. The order of the drugs in the new Pharmacopoeia will be according to the nature of the parts used, and a large number of new forms of medicines, as fluid extracts, tinctures, etc., will be incorporated. The following are the members of the commission: Three pharmacists, Professors Schär and Weber of Zürich, and Buttin of Lausanne; two medical men, Professors Prévost of Geneva, and Massini of Basle; one chemist, Professor Brunner of Lausanne; and one veterinary surgeon, Professor Berdez of Berne. -Chem. and Drugg.

The Molybdate Test for Hypophosphites. ALTHOUGH it has been stated by Winkler (Ann. Phys. Chem., 111, 443) and others that hypophosphorous acid and hypophosphites give a blue color on precipitation with ammonium molybdate, E. J. Millard has never been able to obtain such a reaction with acid, neutral, or alkaline solutions of the molybdate, or he has obtained at most only a faint coloration after a considerable time. On the other hand, he finds that the addition of a small quantity of sulphurous acid renders the test a most delicate one, and one with which the ordinary nitric acid solution of ammonium molybdate answers well. Phosphates, pyrophosphates, and phosphites do not give the reaction when similarly treated. In pure solutions it is possible to detect 1 part of hypophosphorous acid in 2,000.-Pharm. Journ. (3), 19, 585.

A Poisonous Derivative from Chloral and Glucose. A. HEFFTER reports that when equal parts of pure anhydrous glucose and chloral are heated together in a closed vessel on a water-bath, a chemical combination takes place resulting in the formation of two different compounds.

When the heat has been continued for about two hours, the mass appears homogeneous and dark brown, viscid while hot, and almost as hard as glass when cold. This mass was dissolved in alcohol, and the alcoholic solution diluted with much hot water, which caused the separation of resinous drops. The latter were filtered off and the solution evaporated until all alcohol and remaining free chloral were dissipated. It was then diluted with water, filtered, and set aside to crystallize. The first crop of crystals, after purification, appeared in form of thin lamellæ of a mother-of-pearl lustre, which were tasteless and were found to be free from any poisonous qualities. The mother-liquid, on further evaporation, deposits starshaped groups of needles which, when purified, are white, but little soluble in water (1 in 154), and have a bitter taste. Their composition is C.H1.Os. C2HClO, or CHOCl3, there being a loss of one molecule of water [which may be derived from the glucose alone, as expressed by the first formula, which the author of the paper does not venture to assume].

This new compound is very poisonous, even in small quantities, and is being studied pharmacologically at present. Further information is promised shortly.-After Ber. d. D. Chem. Ges., 1889, 1050.

QUERIES & ANSWERS.

Queries for which answers are desired, must be received by the 5th of the month, and must in every case be accompanied by the name and address of the writer, for the information of the editor, but not for publication.

No. 2,349.-Ammonin (O. S. P.).

This is a patented article, prepared "by treating carbonate and silicate of sodium with hydrosulphuric acid, and combining the product with sulphide of ammonium," as we are informed. Dr. Meissner, of Vienna, reports that it is composed of carbonate and silicate of sodium and a considerable quantity of sulphides. It is generally supposed that a pentasulphide of ammonium is used in its manufacture, and that this is treated with steam in presence of soda and lime.

It has been found that the water-soluble portion of ammonin (about one-third of it) is a most efficient cleansing and washing agent of textile fibres, readily dissolving and removing fatty matter and dirt adhering to the fibre. Whether it would be of use for general cleaning purposes in factories we do not know.

No. 2,350.-Tinctura Ferri Acetatis, Rademacher (M. A.).

This preparation, which is more often demanded by physicians educated in Germany than by those educated in this country, is supposed to possess special advantages on account of the facility with which it is borne even by delicate stomachs. When well made, it has a fine aromatic odor, somewhat resembling that of Malaga wine, and contains about 1% of iron, calculated as metal.

In giving the method of preparation, we follow Hirsch (Beckurts-Hirsch, "Handbuch d. prakt. Pharmacie "). Dissolve 23 parts of sulphate of iron (ferrous) in 24 parts of distilled water by the aid of heat, and 24 parts of acetate of lead in a like amount of distilled water in the same manner. Add to each solution 48 parts of hot vinegar [or dilute acetic acid] of 6%, mix the two solutions, and add 80 parts of alcohol sp. gr. 0.832. Macerate the mixture in a wide flask for several months until it has acquired a red color, then filter. The sulphate of iron is in excess, but this appears to be intended. The resulting liquid, separated from the sulphate of lead, contains therefore acetate and sulphate of iron, acetic acid, alcohol, and probably some ethers. A certain portion of the iron is gradually separated in form of insoluble compounds, up to a certain but variable limit, beyond which no further change takes place, so that the final product will contain approximately 1% of iron. If the above proportions are used, the final yield amounts to 230 parts, and the sp. gr. of the wellseasoned tincture is 0.982. The long-continued maceration is intended to promote the higher oxidation of the iron which is originally present only as ferrous salt. To facilitate this, the tincture ought to be put into a very wide flask, where it will occupy a layer of little height but wide surface, and the neck be stoppered loosely with cotton, so as to permit a circulation of air. The red color and ethereal odor require several weeks for development.

If the tincture is to be assayed, a portion of it should be concentrated by heat, the whole of the iron oxidized by nitric acid, then diluted, precipitated with an excess of ammonia, and the precipitate washed, dried, ignited, and weighed.

No. 2,351.—Administration of Tincture of Iron (J. B.). We are asked: "What is, in your opinion, the best method to take or administer tincture of iron, so that it will not leave that puckering, astringent taste in the mouth which is so disagreeable to some people?"

If the officinal tincture of iron, or any similar iron preparation of decidedly astringent taste, is to be rendered tasteless," there are various methods by which this may be brought about, but they all depend upon a more or less complete decomposition of the iron salt. However, this is probably of little importance, since more or less decomposition would have ensued in a dose of the tincture even while being swallowed, or shortly afterwards. Among the methods practised there are two which may be recommended more particularly, viz. :

1. When about to give a dose of the tincture or other iron preparation, dilute it with a little water, pour it into a glass of milk, and at once administer it.

2. Or pour the dose into a glass of Vichy water and administer it. In the latter case there will be some effervescence, even if the water was not charged with gas. The effervescence is due to the fact that the resulting ferric carbonate gives off its carbonic acid. The Vichy water used for this purpose should not be the highly dilute "bar Vichy," which generally contains but traces of the salts characteristic of this celebrated water, but one which approaches in quantity of important constituents the genuine, otherwise there would not be enough alkali carbonate present to completely decompose the iron salt.

No. 2,352.-Solanine and Potatoes (Dr. A. D.).

This correspondent asks us to state whether we are aware

of any case in which toxic effects have been ascribed to the eating of potatoes. The latter contain the alkaloid solanine, which is quite energetic in doses of about grain.

In reply, we would say that there is no such case on record. The amount of solanine in potatoes is quite small. Young, fresh tubers contain comparatively the largest quantity. According to Hauf, raw, well-developed potatoes, carefully freed from shoots, contained 0.32% of solanine in May (in Germany), and 0.42% in June; in other months less. When potatoes are boiled with water, nearly all the solanine is extracted by the liquid. Potato skins contain more solanine than the mealy part.

No. 2,353.-Silico-Sulpho-Calcite of Alumina (M.O.S.). We confess that we were struck with astonishment when we saw this frightful name. But when we were further informed that it was the name of a new homoeopathic remedy recently introduced, we speedily calmed down. Regarding its composition we know nothing, and we do not believe that its originator knows any more about it than we do. He may know what crude or refined chemicals he mixed or brought together with intent to make a new compound, but we defy him to prove it to be a chemical individual. Legitimate materia medica is full enough of mysteries and dark corners even now. It is certainly more than folly to add to it compounds of which no one can give any intelligent account. From a note on the article we were furnished with, we learn that it has been given (!) with favorable results in "housemaid's knee," and that it also took away a dreadful anal itching, piles, constipation, as if by magic." Further comment is unnecessary.

No. 2,354.-Oliver's Peptone Test for Bile (N. Y.).

According to Oliver ("On Bedside Urine Testing," New York, 1885, p. 208), when albuminous urine, acidified by acetic or citric acid, is diluted and run upon jaundiced urine, it will show the presence of bile salts; for, along the plane of contact of the urines, a sharply defined white band or zone of precipitated albumin will instantly appear. In making a practical application of this reaction, Oliver found that an acidified solution of peptone would answer the same purpose as the albuminous urine. He therefore recommends to prepare the test liquid as follows:

Powdered Peptone (Savory & Moore)..
Salicylic Acid.

Acetic Acid (British Pharmacopoeia)
Distilled Water.....

gr. 30 .gr. 4 .min. 30

to make fl. oz. 8

Filter several times until the liquid is perfectly transparent.

The author specially directs Savory & Moore's powdered peptone.

Whether this can be replaced by any other brand with equal results we do not know, but it can easily be tried. In executing the test, the author recommends to run 20 minims of the urine, which contains bile salts in pathological quantity, into 60 minims of the test solution, when an opalescence will appear proportionate to the amount of bile salts present. This opalescence differs from other urinary precipitates produced by an acidified reagent, in this, that it dissolves completely upon adding a drop or two of acetic acid, and in diminishing but not disappearing on boiling. It seems, therefore, that the free acid already present in the reagent is insufficient to prevent opalescence. We have no experience with this test, but propose to try it upon the first specimen of jaundiced urine available.

No. 2,355.-Guajacol (B. W.).

This is the most valuable constituent of creosote, and has been recommended by Sahli and Fränkel to be used instead of the more variable creosote. The following formulæ have been mentioned:

M. Dose: A tablespoonful two to three times daily in water.

No. 2,356.-Ureated (not “Urate of") Mercury (P.). We are asked what the dose of urate of mercury is. Surely our correspondent made an error, or received a wrongly written prescription, for we never heard of urate of mercury, or of any other urate, being given internally as medicine. There is no doubt in our mind that the compound intended was the so-called "ureated mercury," which is another, commercial name to denote the double chloride of mercury and urea (CON2H,.HgCl22). This is a salt exceedingly soluble in water, but may be obtained in crystals by dissolving the two ingredients, in molecular proportion, in boiling alcohol. The salt is also called carbamidated mercury," or "carbamidated bichloride of mercury." It is quoted on some manufacturers' lists,

66

but seldom kept in stock. The dose would be but little different from that of the bichloride itself. In dilute solution it may also be administered hypodermically.

No. 2,357.-Effect of Temperature upon Volumetric Solutions (R. A. R.).

One of our correspondents asks: "At what temperature are the volumetric solutions of the Pharmacopoeia prepared, and will not the results of winter and summer determinations widely differ?"

The U. S. Pharm. did not specify any particular temperature for preparing volumetric solutions, as it was assumed that those who would employ them would be familiar with the general principles of the volumetric. method. The Pharmacopoeia cannot be a text-book for instruction, but only one of application. Treatises on volumetric analysis usually give sufficiently detailed instructions regarding this and other points, so that a knowledge of them may be presupposed.

There is, of course, no agreement among authors, or among practical analysts, as to the precise temperature at which volumetric solutions should be made. Indeed, it would be quite inconvenient and impracticable to follow a prescribed and rigid rule, as it entirely depends upon the temperature prevailing in the place where the solutions have to be used. Mohr's handbook prescribes a temperature of 17.5° C. for preparing certain of the standard solutions, but this involves the necessity of using the solutions at the same temperature, if any definite volume of them is to contain an absolutely exact quantity of the reagent. In the case of many reagents, a moderate variation of temperature, say of 10 or 15 degrees, makes but a slight difference in absolute accuracy, and generally makes no difference at all in relative accuracy when a solution is compared with or titrated against another which has been prepared at the same time.

In making standard solutions, either in winter or in summer, it is always best to prepare them in the room in which they are eventually to be used, provided the temperature of the room is fairly equal throughout the year. A temperature of 75° to 85°, or as near as possible to 80°, is probably the most suitable. It must not be forgotten that, although a volumetric solution will increase in volume by heat, yet the glass (flask or burette) in which it is contained will also expand somewhat, and the absolute expansion of the liquid in a burette is, therefore, not fully indicated by its apparent increase in volume.

Solutions which are dependent upon each other, as acid and alkaline solutions, iodine and hyposulphite, nitrate of silver and chloride of sodium, etc., must, of course, always be made and used while they are both at the same temperature, though this may vary somewhat at different times. If they are always kept together in one place, and if the solution of the substance which is to be assayed by means of them is also prepared and held at the same temperature as the test solutions, the result will be rela

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

THE DEBT OF MEDICAL AND SANITARY SCIENCE TO SYNTHETIC CHEMISTRY. BY PROF. SAM'L P. SADTLER, PH.D. (Reprinted from the Journal of the Franklin Institute). 8vo, Philadelphia, 1889.

THIS is a concise, clear, and systematically arranged résumé of the organic chemicals which have been introduced into medicine during the past decade. Their chemical constitution and their relation to each other, where such exists, is plainly set forth. Altogether the paper deserves to be put on file for ready reference...

A HANDBOOK OF THERAPEUTICS. By SIDNEY RINGER, M.D., etc. Twelfth Edition. New York: William Wood & Co., 1889. Pp. 524, 8vo. NUMEROUS works are published on the subject of therapeutics, but none of them have yet succeeded in meeting the needs of a physician engaged in the actual practice of medicine so successfully as this one of Professor Ringer's, and whatever books he may please to have on materia medica, medical botany, pharmacy, or the effects of medicinal substances upon healthy men and animals, Professor Ringer's treatise on the uses of medicines for sick people is something which he can ill dispense with. The addition of new matter has necessitated an increase in the size of the page, so that the present edition is of the usual octavo size, rather than the small octavo with which we are fa, miliar.

tively correct; that is, the volume of the unknown solution which has been found to completely react with the quantity of the standard solution required for the purpose, will contain exactly as much of the substance as the standard solution was capable of indicating at that temperature. If the test was made at the temperature at which the standard solution was made, the result gives the absolute quantity of the substance revealed by the test liquid. No. 2,358.-" Alkaline" and "Alkali" (J. E. P.). This correspondent requests us to state what is meant, or rather what should be meant, by the term "an alkaline citrate." He is aware of the fact that this term can have two meanings, viz.: either the citrate of one of the alkalies, or any citrate (whether of an alkali or of a heavy metal) having an alkaline reaction to test paper.

We have had several opportunities of communicating our views on this subject, but not in these pages. As it will perhaps interest many others of our readers, and may help to do away with an ambiguity in chemical language, we will briefly state our position.

The adjective "alkaline" has hitherto been used by most writers in two senses, viz.: (1) “belonging to or derived from an alkali," without any reference to any reaction towards chemical test papers; and (2) "possessing the peculiar properties of an alkali, in so far as to produce the characteristic changes in chemical test papers. "No doubt many writers have felt the awkwardness of this double meaning, as there are many cases where it would be preferable to leave no doubt in the reader's mind as to which of the two significations is meant. For instance, a writer uses the term "alkaline sulphate," when he may have shortly before have had occasion to use the expression acid sulphate." No doubt most readers would interpret the former as meaning "the sulphate of an alkali"; but there is, nevertheless, a possibility that a writer may wish to speak of an alkaline sulphate, or citrate, or other salt, as one possessing an alkaline reaction to test paper." It is very easy to avoid this ambiguity without doing violence to the English language. If the word "alkali" be used in an adjective sense, and the meaning of this be restricted to belonging to, or derived from, an alkali," and the word "alkaline" be reserved for denoting alkalinity as to test paper, etc., the confusion will be removed. We would speak, therefore, of “alkali salts,” “ ," "alkali carbonate," "alkali phosphate," etc., meaning salts, etc., of an alkali, no matter what their reaction may be. And we would apply the term "alkaline salts," alkaline sulphate," ""alkaline phosphate," etc., to any salts (whether of an alkali or metal) having an alkaline reaction. Information Asked For.

66

66

1. What are the physical and chemical differences between vaseline and cosmoline, as at present in the market? 2. Where can Bertholet's Pepsin (a French brand) be procured in this country?

the illustrations of unusual merit; the one in color, showing varieties of follicular amygdalitis and diphtheria, being particularly good.

HANDBOOK FOR THE HOSPITAL CORPS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND STATE MILITARY FORCES. By CHARLES SMART, Major and Surgeon, U. S. Army. Appointed by the Surgeon-General of the Army. New York: William Wood & Co. Pp.

577, 12mo.

THIS beautiful little pocket manual is announced by its author to be intended to "bring together the various subjects, outside of dispensary work, in which the members of the corps are interested, and present them in such a manner as would render them intel

ligible to any one who has that dispensary or hospital training which the members of the Hospital Corps are required to have prior to any possibility of promotion."

If any drug-clerk thinks he has too long hours, too small pay, and too numerous responsibilities, we invite him to study the contents of this book and remember that this is required of the military pharmacist in addition to his knowledge of pharmacy.

The contents include: The Service of the Post Hospital, Active Service in the Field, General Hospital Service, A Brief Description of the General Anatomy of the Human Body, and, lastly, the Elements of First Aid, Intelligent Nursing, and Ward Supervision. The whole is elegantly bound in green leather, with a brass clasp, and has the chevron of the corps on the front cover.

Whole No. 183.

OTABLE as has been the progress made by druggists in the last few years in the way of handling their material, from the useful as well as the ornamental standpoints, it can scarcely be realized without a personal inspection of some of the stores recently opened at New York. The new study of necessity, as one of the elements of good art, has led to the discovery of the fact that space and time have hitherto been much wasted in drugstores. One of the latest ideas in arrangement is that of using numbers on drawers and shelves instead of names, catalogues being kept to correspond. Thus the druggist can find anything he wants at a moment's notice. Another good idea is to make the colored globes answer the purpose of illumination as well as of advertisement, by placing an electric light inside of them. The retail department of a store in which these two ideas are illustrated is long and rather broad than narrow. The dispensing department is at right angles with it, extending to the left. This department has one show-window, which looks on the side street, and is decorated in an original and appropriate manner. In the middle of the window space is a glass case which forms a pedestal for a tall block of crystallized alum beautifully pure in its different whites. There are small, colorless glass instruments surrounding it. In front of the case, extending across the window, are tall percolators, graduated in height from the middle one. On a colored oak pedestal, at either end of the window, is a large, colorless glass globe containing an electric light. Behind the window is a small oaken table, with a yellow globe upon it, surrounded by medical pamphlets. Just behind the table, facing the store, is placed the druggist's

private desk, also of fine carved dark oak. The dispensing department has a beautiful arrangement of color. Either side of the large, full-length mirror which faces the store are wall casings of oak with bottles and jars filled with deep-toned yellow, red, and brown liquids, relieved against a backing of gold cathedral glass which gleams and shimmers most beautifully with the changing light from the side windows. This idea is carried out throughout the department. The gold-leaf is placed behind the glass instead of in front, and thus a smooth, solid, united surface is presented to the eye. A cabinet between the mirror and the window has yellow silk curtains. The chairs throughout the store are of oak with leather seats.

The dispensing department is divided into two sections by the drug clerk's desk. Back of this desk, filling a large rectangular space, is an enormous two-sided prescription counter, with various attachments, among others an apparatus for distilling water. At the desk end, on the side, are numbered sections forming cupboards, opening from the top, but made to look like drawers. Other drawers in the walls are made with open sides, especially those for the pills and elixirs. These sides are graduated according to the size of the bottle, and thus the contents are at once secure and easily accessible. In the front division of the dispensing department are small, square numbered drawers for herbs. Each holds exactly one pound. At the end of the compounding department is a fume closet in which prescriptions or mixtures having disagreeable odors are put up, in order that the odors may escape into the open air through the ventilating shaft. The ceiling is treated with stamped paper of a pale terra

cotta tint, in geometrical designs, and has a border of green in a beaded pat

The low flight of steps which separates the retail department of this store from the prescription department has a handsome oaken post at each side. On one is a large crimson globe, on the other a dark red, the color being, as is usual in drugstores, produced by chemically