Condition of Trade.

NEW YORK, January 23, 1904. The first few weeks of the New Year give promising evidence of a return to healthy business activity. The demand for nearly all descriptions of drugs and chemicals has improved, both importers and jobbers being well supplied with orders. Although the demand is mostly confined to jobbing orders, the movement of goods indicates that interior merchants are placing orders with more liberality, the volume of business being slightly in excess of that usually met with so early in the month, and the indications are favorable for an active market for some time to come. The market taken as a whole is viewed as very favorable, and several articles have developed increased firmness, with sharp advances in others. The most important price change since our last is in camphor, which remains the feature of the market, having advanced from 58c, the quotation current at the time our previous report was put to press, to 70c, the ruling quotation to-day, and the indications are that values will go still higher. Opium has held fairly steady in the interval, but quinine and cocaine have been reduced by the manufacturers, keen competition influencing a decline in both. Cascara sagrada maintains its firmness and the tendency is still upward. Ipecac is neglected and values show a downward tendency. The price of blue vitriol has been advanced by the manufacturers and the chemical market shows considerable firmness in other lines, as silver nitrate, which has marked an advance since our last. sential oils, natural sassafras is attracting attention, only small lots being obtainable at an advance over previous prices. Camphor oil is very firm at a fractional advance, and there is a better feeling in anise and cassia, which share the firmness of all Chinese products.

In es

Canary seed, Smyrna.

Angostura bark has met with increased attention of late and for the small available supply holders name 50c.

Atropine has been reduced 30c an ounce by the manufac turers, in sympathy with a corresponding decline in foreign markets, and the revised quotations are on the basis of $4.90 for alkaloid and $4.05 for sulphate in eighths.

Balsams.-Copaiba, Central American, appears well sustained though in light demand, current sales being at 33c to 35c. Fir, Canada, continues scarce and firm at the range of $3.40 to $3.60, with only small sales reported. Peru is dull and lifeless, and supplies are readily obtainable from jobbers at $1.10 to $1.15. Tolu continues held at 25c to 26c and is in seasonable demand.

Bayberry bark continues in light supply and wanted, with values ruling firm at the recent advance to 17c to 18c.

Buchu leaves, short, are held with a fair show of firmness in the face of firmer advices from the Cape, and while yellow

ish leaves are obtainable down to 18c, fine green stock has sold during the interval at 22c.

Burgundy pitch has hardened in the interval owing to scarcity, and recent sales have been at 24c to 3c.

Cacao butter is only in light demand, but sales in a jobbing way continue to be made at 28c to 281⁄2c.

Cascara sagrada maintains its firm position, and quotations show a further advance to 171⁄2c to 20c, as to age and quality. Cherry bark has gained additional strength since our last, goods of prime quality being scarce and held at 9c, though inferior grades are still obtainable down to 5c.

Cocaine muriate, influenced by keen competition, is lower from the hands of manufacturers who announced a reduction of 2c an ounce on the 11th inst., making the open quotation $3,25 to $3.45 for bulk.

Cod liver oil has developed increased firmness in the face of reports from Norway indicating a small catch. While a few barrels of Jervell's and Thiessen's are offering at $100.00, less than $110.00 is not accepted for Devold's, and Isdahl's is quoted at $145.00.

Colocynth apples, Trieste, are momentarily neglected, and some pressure on the part of holders to realize has eased off values to the extent that offerings are made at 31c to 35c; Spanish quoted at 26c to 27c.

Cottonroot bark is meeting with increased attention, and holders are firmer in their views, at 18c to 20c.

Cuttlefish bone, jewelers' small, is tending upward, owing to scarcity here and abroad. Goods to arrive are now quoted at 57c, though a small lot still offers at 56c; large bone held at 54c. Damiana leaves are well sustained at previous prices, or, say 81⁄2c to 10c, as to quantity.

Ergot is passing out quite actively in jobbing quantities at the range of 35c to 38c, for either German or Spanish.

Formaldehyde is unsettled and lower, owing to keen competition among manufacturers, and quotations have been reduced to 101⁄2c to 11c, as to quantity.

Grains of paradise offer with increased freedom at the range of 112c to 12c, a fractional decline.

Haarlem oil is offered quite freely within the range of 1.80c to 1.90c, but there is no demand of consequence.

Isinglass, American, is scarce, and the small available supply is firmly held at 80c to 85c, as to quantity.

Lycopodium is higher in sympathy with stronger foreign markets, and spot quotations show an advance to 60c for unlabeled and 61c for Pollitz.

Manna, small flake, is offered with increased freedom and recent sales were at 31c to 32c.

Menthol is weak and unsettled, with quotations fractionally lower, $5.15 being named for cases, and some anticipate a further reduction in price.

Opium has strengthened a bit in the interval under the influence of stronger advices from Smyrna, but the market is without much activity and only small jobbing sales are reported at the range of $2.971⁄2 to $3.022,,cases being quoted at $2.95 and powdered at $3.55 to $3.65, as to test and quality.

Quinine was reduced 1c an ounce by manufacturers on the 18th inst., without, however, stimulating the demand, which is not of a spirited character. Prices are now established upon the basis of 24c an ounce in lots of 100 ounces and over, and the prices of alkaloid and minor salts are correspondingly lower, alkaloid being quoted 38c, acetate 43c, bimuriate 37c and citrate 34c.

Saffron, American, is in improved position and most holders now ask 48c, though a limited quantity might be obtainable at a shade under this. Valencia is unsettled, and while some

holders report sales at $8.00, others are accepting orders at $7.75 to $8.00.

Santonine has been advanced by the manufacturers to meet the increased cost of production, and quotations for crystals and powdered are $7.15 and $7.35 respectively.

Vanilla beans are in fair demand, and we hear of sales of whole Mexican at $5.50 to $10.00 and of cuts at $3.25 to $4.50. Wax, bayberry, is scarce and wanted, and holders decline to shade 16c, with up to 20c asked in some instances.

Chemicals.

Alum has been in improved demand since our last, and the market is steady in tone at $1.75 to $1.90 for lump, $1.85 to $2.00 for ground and $3.00 to $4.00 for powdered.

Ammonium carbonate prices have been established by an agreement among home and foreign producers upon the basis of 8c for 25 casks, 8c for 10 casks, 8c for 5 casks, and 81⁄2c for less.

Arsenic, white, is held at full previous prices for spot delivery, but is a shade easier for forward. Sales at 3c to 314c.

Blue vitriol is in improved position, and makers have advanced prices, and now quote on the basis of 54c for car lots, though second hands continue to name 5c to 5c.

Boric acid continues in demand, and values are well sustained at the range of 104c to 111⁄2c for crystals, and 11c to 114c for powdered.

Chlorate of potash continues scarce for forward delivery, and jobbing quotations for powdered are maintained at 74c to 8c; crystals held at 7c to 7c.

Cream of tartar offers at 241⁄2c to 244c for crystals, and 244c to 25c for powdered, and a steady moderate demand is experienced.

Epsom salt is seasonably dull, and manufacturers' quotations show a decline to $1.00 inside.

Glauber's salt offers quite freely from manufacturers at 55c, while jobbing parcels are held at 60c, the lower range of values being influenced by competition.

Nitrate of silver has been advanced in price to correspond with the higher price of bullion, and 371⁄2c to 41c represents the quoted range, as to quantity.

Nitrate of soda is easier, in consequence of recent arrivals, and current quotations are $2.15 to $2.25.

Quicksilver is meeting with moderate attention at the price of 612c to 62c.

Tartaric acid is not meeting with any active inquiry at the new range of 314c to 32c for crystals and powdered, respectively, but rumored sales at prices under these quotations have seemingly no foundation.

Essential Oils.

Anise may yet be obtained from some in the trade at $1.10, though holders as a rule ask $1.121⁄2 to $1.15, as to quality and quantity.

Camphor maintains its upward tendency, and it is doubtful whether any quantity could be obtained at less than 9c, though 82c to 11c is still quoted.

Cassia, contrary to expectations, is easier, and the tendency of the market favors buyers, with quotations reduced to 70c to 72%c for 75 to 80 per cent.

Clove does not change from $1.17% to $1.20 in cans, and $1.20 to $1.25 in bottles, at which range consumers' wants are being supplied.

Messina essences are cabled firmer. Prices in this market have as yet undergone no change, though holders are firmer in their views in anticipation of an early advance.

Peppermint is firmer, and quotations for pure in bulk have been advanced to $2.75 to $3, while H.G.H. is not offered below $3.30 from second hands.

Sassafras is working its way into firmer position, owing to scarcity, and 70c is now an inside quotation for strictly prime oil.

Gums.

Camphor still occupies the center of the stage in this department. Scarcely a day has passed since our last issue without the announcement of an advance in price, until now the limit of 70c for barrels, and 701⁄2c for cases has been reached with every indication that values will go higher.

Roots.

We have few developments of special importance to note in this department. Values are steady for most descriptions, and little pressure to realize is evident, except in the case of ipecac, which is dull and offers at a shade under previous quotations. Senega is held with more firmness, and 75c appears to be an inside quotation.

Seeds.

The general line of druggists' seeds shows little change either as regards price or demand. Quotations on poppy have been advanced to 51⁄2c to 5c, and coriander is higher at 34c to 4c for natural and 4c to 44c for bleached. Canary is easier at 44c to 42c for Smyrna, but Sicily is unchanged at 44c to

5c.

Infant Feeding.

In his admirable address on the value of Patented Foods, delivered before the American Chemical Society in New York City during January, Dr. W. D. Halliburton, Professor of Physiology at Kings' College, London, spoke of milk as being the ideal food. In the artificial feeding of infants there is no question but that cow's milk must prove the main reliance. Owing to the wide variation in the character of the milk from different cows the best results are obtained by mixing the milk of a very large number of high grade cows and thus obtaining a uniform or fairly uniform percentage of fats, proteids and sugar. This is done by the manufacture of the Highland Brand Evaporated Cream, who make a product possessing all the advantages of good pure fresh milk with none of the disadvantages frequently present in the fresh milk. It is of uniform percentage composition, sterilized while fresh and preserved by a special process which does not interfere with the digestibility without the use of any preservative whatever. Highland Brand Evaporated Cream may be modified in the same manner as fresh milk and can be safely recommended as a superior infant food. It is manufactured by the Helvetia Milk Condensing Company, Highland, Ill., who will be pleased to send attractive literature to our readers for free distribution.

We

Now is the Time to Study the Soda Situation. The L. A. Becker Company, of Chicago, are in a position to offer practical suggestions to the retail drug trade as to means to catch the crowd and build up a big soda water business. See their advertisement on Page 4 of this issue, where you will find a memorandum which you are to cut out, sign and mail at once to the advertisers. They say: "There is inexhaustible advertising material in the name and a wealth of delicious suggestion in syrups in sterilized silver-capped bottles on ice, in plain sight, yet secure from contamination. have novelty to start with and merit to keep up the mementum, for it means something in these days of popular education when everything that suggests the possibility of microbes is condemned—when our guaranty of absolutely pure soda water is backed up by the indisputable evidence of honest eyesight, hence the Old Tombstone' must go." They urge our readers to investigate the Twentieth Century Fountain, the new draught arm, fruit bowls and other distinctive features-sign and mail the resolution and give the Twentieth Century Sanitary arguments fair and impartial reading when you receive them.

"I hate to see a man's arms drop down as if he was shot, before the clock's fairly struck, just as if he'd never a bit o' pride and delight in 's work. The very grindstone'll go on turning a bit after you loose it."

THE AMERICAN DRUGGIST AND PHARMACEUTICAL RECORD is issued on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Changes of advertisements should be received ten days in advance of the date of publication.

Remittances should be made by New York exchange, post office or express money order or registered mail. If checks on local banks are used 10 cents should be added to cover cost of collection. The publishers are not responsible for money sent by unregistered mail, nor for any money paid except to duly authorized agents. All communications should be addressed and all remittances made payable to American Druggist Publishing Co., 62-68 West Broadway, New York.

Exodin, a New Purgative, Peroxide Dentifrice. Scabiol, Tincture of Arnica, a Bad Skin Stimulant, Eumydrin, Safrol, Dangerously Irritant to the Kidneys, The Preparation of Bismuth Lactate. Javelle Water in Testing Antipyrin and Salophen, A Dark Colored Raspberry Syrup, Cerolin, Action of Light and Alkalies Upon Santonin, Action of Heat on Pepsin, Synthetic Aperients..

Purification of Castor Oil. Digitalis Leaves in Compressed Tablets, False Calisaya Bark, Bornyval, Tests for Cod Liver Oil, Linden Flowers The Preparation of Mercuric Carbolate, Radio-Activity of Human Body..

Copraol: A New Suppository Basis, Composition of the Yolk of Egg, A Method of Testing Glycerin with Iodic Acid, Menthol and Quinine Sulphate in Mixtures.

SELECTIONS AND AESTRACTS:

A Desirable Form of Reciprocity..... QUERIES AND ANSWERS:

Ether Soap. Liquid Antiseptic Soap, Bottling Waxes, Formalin Mouth Wash, Kerosene Liniment, Grease Remover, Manufacturers of Crude Potash, Address Wanted, Saccharated Iron Oxide

78

THE

FRENCH WAY.

66

"They order this matter better in France," for when the Syndicat des Grandes Pharmacies Commerciales brought suit against a manufacturer who had blacklisted them as cutters, the defendants were not only acquitted, but were awarded 1,000 francs damages on account of attacks published by the cutters. The N. A. R. D. has here a notable example of what can be done in price controlling.

THE DAYS OF OUR GRANDMOTHERS.

Now that M. Marcelin Berthelot has informed the French Academy of Sciences that naphthalin balls are practically useless for preserving clothes against the attacks of insects, we may expect a return to the lavender and thyme of our grandmothers, and the dancing man will no longer be embarrassed by the little white globules rolling on the waxed floor of the ballroom when he draws out his handkerchief to mop his waltz-heated brow.

REASONS

Members of the New York State Pharmaceutical Association, who have chafed at the delay in FOR DELAY. the publication of the Proceedings of last year's meeting, can take comfort in the thought that the Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Association will not be ready for delivery until April. The State Proceedings were delivered early this month, the delay being caused by mechanical difficulties at the printer's. The delay in the issue of the 1903 report of the A. Ph. A. Proceedings is due to the regrettable illness of Prof. L. C. Diehl, the Reporter on the Progress of Pharmacy of the association.

NORMAL SALINE SOLUTION.

It is necessary to warn pharmacists against confounding normal volumetric solution of sodium chloride with the normal saline solution used for transfusion purposes in medical practice. Since it has been recommended to impart the radioactive properties of radium to normal saline solution, the question of what will be understood by this term by pharmacists has been raised; hence the necessity of distinguishing A normal saline solution, clearly between the two solutions.

as understood by physicians, contains 6 parts of pure sodium chloride in 1,000 parts of sterilized distilled water, while the volumetric solution used in chemical analysis is nearly ten times as strong. The decinormal volumetric solution of NaCl more nearly approximates the physiological salt solution, and could, perhaps, be substituted for the latter with safety in emergencies, but the normal solution never.

N. A. R. D. ON GUARD.

The McCumber Pure Food bill (Senate Bill 198) differs from the Hepburn bill in containing a definition of the word "drug," which is objected to by many retail pharmacists and some manufacturers. In the Hepburn bill the term drug was restricted in its meaning to include only medicines and preparations recognized in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia for internal and external use, while the Senate bill extends this definition to include "any substance intended to be used for the cure, mitigation, or prevention of disease." The National Association of Retail Druggists has entered a vigorous protest against the incorporation of this definition in the bill, on the ground that if the clause containing it were construed with the provisions of succeeding sections of the proposed law it would produce controversy, trouble and frequent injustice. This protest of the N. A. R. D. serves to remind us that the association is keeping a jealous watch upon proposed national legislation having any bearing upon pharmacy-surely a comforting reflection in these days of movements against the interest of pharmacists.

The Purchase of Hospital Supplies.

The new departure which has been taken in the method of purchasing supplies by the Commission in Lunacy of the State of New York seems to be an excellent one, and will no doubt attract the attention and, we think, the approval of the hospital authorities throughout the United States. It is almost impossible, where a large number of hospitals are grouped under one central bureau, to prevent a considerable waste if the several superintendents are given full authority as purchasing agents. On the other hand, the concentration of the placing of the orders into the hands of a single purchasing agent has almost invariably led to charges of undue influence, if not of outright corruption. It would seem that the method adopted by the State Commission in Lunacy, of naming certain standard preparations and makes and then allowing the superintendents to make their own purchases, subject to these standards, gives just that measure of autonomy which is likely to prove best for the State. Naturally, there will be a vigorous protest from those manufacturers whose brands have not been named by the Commission, but this is a matter in which each manufacturer must act for himself, and must be able to convince the authorities that his goods are entitled to be entered in the ranks of standard preparations.

Proprietary Goods Prices in Canada.

Our Canadian friends are having troubles of their own over the question of proprietary goods prices. They seem to have taken up every phase of the subject for solution at one time, and as a result they have practically come to a standstill, if we may judge by the reports which we have recently obtained through the most reliable and authentic sources.

The jobbing houses took the initiative by forming an organization embracing some 25 of the leading wholesalers, and this organization undertook to lay down hard and fast rules for the guidance of the manufacturers of proprietary remedies, the essential feature of the demands made by the wholesalers being that they be assured a discount of 15 and 5 per cent. from the prices made to the retailers, the wholesalers claiming that they could not afford to handle these proprietaries on any narrower margin. The programme of the wholesalers embraced a sacrifice of the retailers, where such a sacrifice was necessary, in the nature of an advance of the price to retailers by the proprietors.

The retailers of Canada, learning of this movement, naturally entered a vigorous protest, and both the retailers and wholesalers argued the matter at some length before the meeting of the Proprietary Association of Canada, which was held not long since in Toronto. The results of this conference between the three parties at interest are fully described in our news columns, but may briefly be summarized here as follows: The Executive Committee of the Proprietary Association agreed to recommend, on the one hand, that the proprietors shall not advance their prices to retailers, and, on the other hand, recommend a discontinuance of sales at the best quantity price to co-operative buying associations of retailers. It will be seen this programme embraces a concession to the retailers, in the assurance of no advance in prices, and likewise a concession to the jobbers, in a recommendation that syndicate buying for distribution be discontinued.

The retail syndicates retaliate by threatening to boycott all goods that they cannot purchase in quantity lots. The wholesalers threaten to cut off all proprietors who do sell to the syndicates. The proprietor is thus left in a rather difficult position, and one in which each proprietor will have to solve his own troubles.

Judging from the experience of proprietors in the United States, the best thing that the Canadian proprietor can do is to throw on a joint committee of wholesalers and retailers the responsibility for the determination of who shall and who shall not be given the best quantity price. This has been done here through the agency of the tripartite plan, with the result that a few only of the buying associations of retailers have been recognized as being entitled to the best quantity prices. Those so recognized have, as a rule, been organizations effected before the inauguration of the plan and having a business already placed upon a thoroughly established basis, such as the Philadelphia Wholesale Drug Company and the New York Consolidated Drug Company.

We congratulate our Canadian friends upon the apparently moderate and fair attitude assumed by the parties to the controversy, so far as the matter has gone, but it is quite possible that the acute stage of the trouble has not been reached, for when it comes to a definite understanding as to the specific cases in which the buying associations are to be cut off, both jobbers and proprietors will find that the retailer is not willing to sacrifice such advantages as he has gained through the cooperative buying without obtaining some positive and tangible return in the way of terms or price concessions, or at least of price protection.

Drug Adulterations.

It will be remembered by students of pharmaceutical history that the formation of the American Pharmaceutical Association was originally brought about through the efforts on the part of the druggists to prevent the importation into the United States of inferior and adulterated drugs. The association was for many years active in its efforts to obtain and publish facts regarding the adulteration of drugs in hopes of discouraging this practice. A notable revival of interest in the subject has taken place latterly and found expression in the appointment of a Committee on Adulteration at the St. Louis meeting of the association. The work of this committee has grown in volume and in importance from year to year, and the selection of one of its members for the important post of chief of the drug laboratory in the United States Department of Agriculture is the best evidence that the work of the committee has been conducted along right lines.

A perusal of the various reports which have been submitted by this committee show a most deplorable laxity on the part of the manufacturers and importers and the wholesale dealers in regard to the qualities of the drugs made or handled by them.

The various State Boards of Pharmacy and Boards of Health which are entrusted with the local supervision of the question of purity in drugs have also become more active of late years and report an equally regrettable condition of affairs in the retail trade. That there are honest dealers who keep honest goods seems to be freely admitted by all, but the proportion of inferior articles found in the trade is so large as to reflect upon the drug trade in general. The standing of the entire drug trade is at stake in this matter, and it is a great deal better that the Boards of Pharmacy should proceed with their efforts to purge pharmacy of its offending members rather than that innocent and guilty should suffer alike.

Looked at from the lowest plane, that of commercial success, it is incumbent upon every druggist to exercise the greatest care, both in the purchase and in the preparation of his wares. It is this special care and skill which give the druggist his only claim to special consideration at the hands of the public, and any failure on his part to exercise that care and skill will almost certainly be detected at some time and lead to his severe punishment, if not to his total financial ruin.

[Written for the American Druggist.]

READING PRESCRIPTIONS.
BY J. T. PEPPER,
Woodstock, Ont.
II.

In the prescription here shown, the contraction "Liqs." is for Liquoris, the genitive of Liquor, governed by the verb recipe, "take thou," which is the first sign on the prescription, and is represented by the symbol R. Observe the s after both the "Liqs" in the first two lines, signifying that the word is to be understood as though it were written out in full. The same thing is noticed after the contraction Sulp. in the same two lines, this being the abbreviated form of the full word Sulphatis, which is also in the genitive case, but governed by Liquoris. The word Morphia is written in full in the genitive case. The nominative would be Morphia. In the British Pharmacopoeia of 1885, the nomenclature of this word is changed, and the nominative is Morphina, with the genitive Morphina. The same is true of Atropia, which in the newer nomenclature is Atropina, genitive Atropina. The word Atropia is also written in full in the genitive case, as it should be. The sign, "= 1," after Sulphatis in the first two lines means that an amount of the liquor

Ꭱ

66

ві зрек

зрекадий

2 quaqua hora Saur

or solution is to be used equal to the quantity prescribed in grains. In the British Pharmacopoeia of 1898, which is the latest edition, Liquor atropinæ sulphatis is of the following strength: "110 minims contain 1 grain of atropine sulphate; 100 cubic centimeters contain 1 gramme." There is no formula for a solution of morphine sulphate in the B. P. 1898, but one might be prepared of the same strength as for Liquor Morphinæ Acetatis, Liquor Morphine Hydrochloridi or Liquor Morphine Tartratis, all of which are of the same strength as the Liquor Atropine Sulphatis.

If the strength of the solution is as has been stated, then 110 minims of Liquor Morphine Sulphatis would have to be dispensed so that the medicine would contain 1 grain of Morphine Sulphate. In the case of the Liquor Atropinæ Sulphatis onetwenty-fifth of 110 minims would have to be dispensed to comply with the requirements of the physician. And as the dose of the medicine is one tablespoonful, and the mixture is to be made up to fl. zii, this would make four doses of the medicine; therefore, the dose of morphine at each taking would be 4 grain, and that of the atropine 1-100 grain.

It is imperatively necessary before dispensing any such powerful drugs as these to figure out the amount of each dose so as to check any possible error of the prescriber. The B. P. 1885, gives the dose of morphia sulphate as one-eighth to one-half grain. Morphine sulphate is not mentioned in the B. P. 1898, but the dose of the other salts of morphine that are mentioned is given as 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 grain, and the morphine sulphate could be considered as having about the same dose, so that the dose in this prescription is within the limits and can be considered as safe. The same applies to the atropine sulphate, the maximum

dose in the 1898 Pharmacopoeia is 1-200 grain, and as the dose in this prescription is just 1-100th of a grain, it will be seen that that is just the minimum dose of the B. P. 1898, and that it is safe to dispense it.

The prescription, however, was written before the last British Pharmacopoeia was published, and at that time the strength of these preparations was not the same as it is in the last edition. They were then of a strength about 1 in 100.

The

The

"Tr." is an abbreviation for Tincturæ, or Tincture. word Hyoscyami is written out correctly in full Latin. next ingredient is Fluid Extract of Uva Ursi, which, in full Latin, would be, Extracti Uvæ Ursi Fluidi. The physician has contracted the first two words, but he has written out in full Latin, with the proper endings, the last two words, Uva Ursi, which are both in the genitive case. Syrupi and Pruni are both written out in full, but Virg. is a contraction for the word Virginiana. All the quantities and signs are distinctly and plainly written, so that there cannot be the slightest doubt as to how much of each ingredient the physician requires.

The sign M. stands for Misce, mix. Sig. is plainly enough written 3ss, half an ounce, or a tablespoonful. How is the medicine to be taken? Ex aqua, in water. When is it to be taken? 2da quaque hora; which is, in English, "every second hour." Notice that the two letters after the figure 2 are da, the last two letters of the Latin word "secunda," and not as might be expected, where the figure 2 is used, the abbreviation “nd," the last two letters of the English word "second." This proves that the physician who wrote this prescription was a good Latin scholar. Sum. is the contraction for the Latin word Sumenda, "to be taken." Thus we get for our translation of these directions: "A tablespoonful to be taken in water every two hours." It might be better, when writing these directions on the label for the patient, for the druggist to supply the word "One" before the word tablespoonful," making it

read " one tablespoonful."

ORVIETAN OR THERIAC.1

BY L. E. SAYRE.

In Parkman's recent history of La Salle and the discovery of the great West in 1680, we learn of a most marvelous remedy which a priest belonging to La Salle's party had brought with him from France. This remedy is named "Orvietan."

Hennepin, the priest above mentioned, when he was a prisoner among the Indian tribes made himself useful in various ways. It is stated that he shaved the heads of the children, as it was the custom of the tribe, bled certain asthmatic persons, dosed others with Orvietan, the famous panacea of his time, of which he had brought with him a good supply. It is said at one time the whole camp was threatened with starvation; three white men who were prisoners could get no food but unripe berries, from the effects of which Hennepin thinks they might all have died but for timely doses of his Orvietan.

A dog was bitten in the jaw by a snake; he gave him a little of the preparation as an antidote and it cured the animal. A sow came home one day with her head so swelled that she could hardly hold it up. Thinking it must have been some snake bite, a dose of the wonderful preparation was given, mixed with meal and water. The patient began to mend at once. Naturally enough, we are curious to know what was the composition of this wonderful agent "Orvietan."

We have taken the pains to look up the term out of curiosity. We find that the term " Orvietan" is applied to that old French preparation known as treacle or theriac. The archaic term Orvietan is no longer used, but it is interesting to note that this old name treacle or theriac has not as yet become entirely obsolete. Still, I find among pharmacists a difference of opinion as to the meaning of the term. Some claim that treacle implies simply molasses, others that it applies to a kind of confection of opium. The fact is, the term treacle is applied to at least three or four different things. First to syrup obtained in refining sugar, but distinguished from molasses. The

1 Read at the 1903 meeting of the Kansas Pharmaceutical Association.