formed. (2.) The question is one of simple calculation, which our correspondent must be capable of solving for himself. The quantity of moisture present, will, of course, affect the proportions of the other ingredients.—(3.) Ferro-cyanide of potassium and calomel.

"PRUDENTIA.”—-Fownes's Manual of Chemistry. Thomson's or Christison's Dispensatory, and Pereira's Elements of Materia Medica. Persons passing the Major Examination, are expected to be able to read the Pharmacopoeia in Latin.

"A YOUNG MEMBER."-We know of no such work as that described. Thomson's or Christison's Dispensatory would probably be the nearest approach to it.

M. P. S. states that a person who keeps small fish in a leaden cistern, loses a great number of the fish from a disease which appears principally to attack the osseous or cartilaginous parts, commencing about the tail and extending forwards. [Our correspondent is probably right in ascribing the disease to the influence of lead contained in the water, but we have no experience in any similar cases.

"ERGOT.”—For an account of the substance to which the name Ergotine has been applied, see vol. iii., page 129. We think in the prescription alluded to, that the term is intended to denote ergot. The dose is much larger than could safely be given if ergotine were employed. The dose of ergotine is from a grain to two grains.

I. A. B. To make the kreosote mixture, put the mucilage in the mortar, add the kreosote gradually with trituration, and subsequently stir in the

water.

F. We have received the communication.

T. G. E.-We think it probable that the properties of guaiacum are injured by exposure to light.

MR. LAMPLOUGH.-Cinnamon water when distilled from the bark (as we think it ought to be) is rather opaque. It should only contain as much oil as the water will hold in solution.

"AN ASSOCIATE." (York).-Solution of copaiba, see vol. iii., page 66. "ENQUIRER."-(1.) We think it obvious that the blue pill ought not to have been dissolved in the mixture, and should conclude that in copying the prescription the words "fiat pilula " had been accidentally omitted.-(2.) Ammonia might probably be used for neutralizing chlorine in the process alluded to.

"A YOUNG MEMBER,"-Any secret medicine sold with printed directions containing the name of the vendor or proprietor, instructions for use, and recommendation for any particular disorder, is liable to a stamp. It is possible to sail very near the wind and yet evade the law; but we cannot pretend to give instructions in this art.

"AN ASSOCIATE."-See the above.

"ADOLESCENS."-We have never seen a formula for making the Emplas trum Cerati Saponis without colour.

"JUVENIS."-See vol. ii. No. 8. The Minor Examination must be passed in London. The Classical Examination may take place at any part of the country, the examiner being a properly qualified person.

O. P. Q.-They may be obtained of the Publisher, through any bookseller in town or country.

"AMICUS," A. P. S.-Cochl. min., or Cochl. parv., means teaspoonful. Cochl. medium, dessertspoonful.

t

R. G. (Oxford) need not be alarmed. The observation which has occasioned so much uneasiness in his mind referred to Assistants and Apprentices desirous of joining the Society, not to Associates who joined it at the com

mencement.

AN ASSOCIATE inquires (1.) Whether there is a good opening for an English Chemist in China? [We have no means of obtaining information on this point]. (2.) Whether a knowledge of the Chinese language would be necessary? [Undoubtedly].-(3.) Whether the business is conducted in the same manner as in England? [We should think not].

A. P. S. does not state whether he had selected the proper time for performing the experiment. This is important in such cases.

"ALGE."-Materia Medica.

A. B.-(1.) We answered the question last month.-(2.) We cannot recommend any smaller work as a substitute for the one named.—(3.) Fownes's Manual of Chemistry.

J. W.-See Dr. Letheby's Lecture on Leeches, vol. iv., pp. 252 and 297. We have no reason to believe that the bite of the green leech is injurious, but it is decidedly inferior in quality to the speckled leech. In times of scarcity, green leeches are often used for want of the better kind.

"TYRO CHEMICUS."-The glaze applied to pottery is not always the same, it usually consists of lead, glass, flints, and sometimes borax and other salts. It would be liable to be acted upon by the acid solution alluded to.

"UNCIAM."—A complicated decomposition ensues on the addition of oil of vitriol to spirit of turpentine.

T. D. (Leeds) inquires what denomination of weights is employed "in the writings in the Pharmaceutical Journal?" [In most cases Apothecaries' weight; we believe where otherwise, it is usually specified. If our correspondent will point out any cases in which he is in doubt, we will endeavour to explain them.]

"Xppa."-On adding sulphuric acid to a boiling saturated solution of bichromate of potash, sulphate of potash is formed, and chromic acid set free. If the quantities mentioned be used, there would probably be a deposition of sulphate of potash, coloured with a little chromic acid, or bichromate of potash, as the solution cooled. The solution would still contain sulphate of potash and chromic acid, together with bichromate of potash if the sulphuric acid used was not sufficient to decompose the whole of it. On adding spirit of wine to this solution, a decomposition of the chromic acid is effected, the latter giving up oxygen, and being reduced to the state of oxide of chromium. If there were excess of sulphuric acid present, this oxide of chromium would combine with it, forming sulphate of oxide of chromium. The specimen of salt sent, and which is said to have been deposited from a solution formed as above, is chrome alum, a salt having the same constitution as common alum, but in which the alumina is replaced by oxide of chromium. The green powder sent, is a mixture of oxide of chromium and sulphate of potash.

Advertisements to Mr. CHURCHILL, Princes Street, Soho.

Instructions from Members and Associates, respecting the transmission of the Journal, to Mr. SMITH, 17, Bloomsbury Square, before the 20th of the month.

Other Communications to THE EDITOR, 338, Oxford Street, before the 20th of the month.

VOL. V.-No. V.-NOVEMBER 1st, 1845.

THE CHARACTER OF

THE CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS.

ALTHOUGH We have always treated with silent contempt those aspersions which are frequently cast upon our body by interested parties or persons unworthy of notice, we think it our duty, when occasion requires, to vindicate the character of our brethren.

We have lately observed in The Times several articles in reference to the subject of Medical Reform, in which severe reflections have been cast on the Chemists and Druggists, and we are induced to advert to the subject on account of the sweeping and general nature of the accusations which have been brought against us by a journal enjoying a high character for impartiality and justice.

In this instance, however, we think that justice has scarcely been done to our body, since the observations are founded on the alleged misconduct or incompetence of individuals, for which, under existing circumstances, we contend that the body at large ought not to be held responsible.

It is true that, as the law now stands, every man who has a "doctor's shop," with coloured bottles, is a Chemist and Druggist. The itinerant quack doctors described in our last number are, according to law, Chemists and Druggists. Although they periodically frequent the markets, they have Druggist's shops, and enjoy the same legal protection and privileges as any Member of the Pharmaceutical Society. There are many other persons in different parts of the country, but little if at all higher in the scale of education than the said quack doctors, who sell and compound drugs, and are, in the present imperfect state of the law, to all intents and purposes Chemists and Druggists. Irregularities or improprieties of conduct prevailing among such persons are too often attributed to the class with which they claim connection, and thus the innocent as well as the guilty participate in the dis

VOL. V.

credit, and bear a share of the blame. We are surprised to find that The Times has failed to notice the fact, which is now notorious, that the respectable portion of the Chemists and Druggists are uniting and exerting themselves to put an end to the abuses which are a source of complaint. If the public press, instead of running us down, would lend us a helping hand, the completion of the reform would be expedited, and the object sought to be obtained by censure, would be realized by milder and much more

effectual means.

We extract the following from the leading article of The Times of October 15: it refers to Dr. Lyon Playfair's report of the state of large towns in Lancashire, given in the supplement to the second report of the Health of Towns Commission, and reprobates the prevailing practice of giving opiates to children.

"How a check is to be placed on the vending to the poor and ignorant of drugs with which they may poison their children, unless most stringent restrictions are placed on empiricism of all sorts, it is difficult to say. That the sellers require a check equally with the buyers, is most painfully evident from the evidence which is referred to in the report. Druggist after druggist was examined, who testified to the baneful effects of the practice of quieting infants by narcotics; one after another of them detailed the wretchedness which resulted from that practice; they narrated instances of its shocking consequences; and yet, hardened by custom, without even urging the apology of the starving apothecary in Romeo and Juliet, my poverty, and not my will consents,' they coolly stated the number of quarts, and even gallons of GODFREY's Cordial, DALBY's Carminative, laudanum, which they sold weekly to the poor in order to enable them to purchase a short respite from their maternal cares at the expense of the health, sanity, and lives of their hapless infants. One druggist, selling his gallons of opiates weekly, thus described their effects :

Quietness,' and

“Have you ever known instances in which children have suffered by excessive doses being administered by mothers or nurses?

“Oh, yes! I have known death ensue [the mercenary scoundrel !] and also sleeping for a considerable length of time, so that there was difficulty in getting the child out of the sleep. The deaths in the cases to which I allude, arose from sudden convulsions.

"Have the children in the habitual use of opiates any peculiarities of appearance ?

They look very drowsy and low, and seem to be always sleepy. Their

eyes are fixed. They become emaciated, their bellies protuberant, and they look very old.'

"Many are the instances of juvenile precocity related, in which a child, from wretched experience can point out the bottle of Godfrey' on the druggist's shelf. One druggist says

"It is curious to see the children in the shop: they stretch out their little hands, for they know the bottle, and when they get it, drink it as eagerly as the drunkard does his glass !'

"Another of these HERODS gives the following description of the children drugged at his own shop

:

"You may know at once a child who is accustomed to the use of these drugs. It becomes so thin that you can feel nothing but bone. Its eyes get sunken and fixed, its nose pinched; in fact, such children look exactly like little old wizened men and women. They sink off in a decline and die. I have often reprobated the practice to mothers, but their answer is, 'What are we to do? it is so very cross.'

"And this, according to the report, is one of a number of 'respectable men!' He had sense enough to reprobate the practice, but his virtue was unequal to the task of refusing to profit by it.

"What a commentary this report affords on free trade in medicine! Custom and pecuniary gain, selfishness in one or other of its forms, renders even ‘respectable men '-men of the horse-and-gig respectability—wholly indifferent to the fearful consequences arising from this baneful practice. The evil must be met, for this habitual murder of the innocents is a national degradation no less than a destruction of national power, and to permit it to continue unchecked, especially after its having been brought officially under the notice of the Legislature, would be a national sin."

We readily admit that the practice of dosing children with opiates is very much to be lamented, and are aware that it prevails to a great extent in the manufacturing districts. The subject has often been alluded to in strong terms in this journal. But if we trace the evil to its source, we shall find that the Druggists in general are not such "HERODS" as the Editor of The Times would lead us to suppose. It is well known that, from motives of economy, there is a great demand for female labour in the manufactories, and that while the husbands are out of employment, and many of them in the public-houses, the wives leave their infants during the greater part of the day, and with the elder children earn the bread which is to support the whole family. The infants, being