MODE OF FIXING PENCIL DRAWINGS.

We have received the following instructions on this subject from Mr. Christie, of Westmoreland Place, City Road:

Dissolve pale resin in spirit of wine; lay the pencil drawing on its face upon a sheet of clean paper, and brush the back of the drawing with the solution. This penetrates through the paper in a few minutes, and as the spirit evaporates the resin is deposited as a varnish on the drawing. This has the advantage of not cockling the paper, which aqueous solutions will do, and as the brush only passes over the back of the drawing, none of the pencil marks are in any degree removed. This process will not answer with drawings on card, or any other substance too thick to be penetrated by the solution. In this case, a weak solution of isinglass may be placed in a shallow dish, the drawing being passed through it so as to wet every part without touching it with a brush.

[We can recommend the above processes in the cases alluded to, and agree with our Correspondent in thinking that the use of a brush is objectionable. For delicate drawings no method is better than the one we have already mentioned, of preparing the paper previously with a coating of size and inverting it over steam when the drawing is finished, as well as during the process when requisite.-ED.]

ANNOYANCE JURIES.

DURING the past month an annoyance jury called at the shop of a Chemist in London to examine the weights and scales; one of the gentlemen taking up a 3ij. weight enquired whether it was avoirdupois weight, and objected that it had not the Westminster stamp. He was informed that it was Apothecaries' weight, used for prescriptions, and not for retailing medicines. He took up several other Apothecaries' weights, asking the same question, and appeared unacquainted with that kind of weights. The jury, on leaving the shop, gave strict orders to have all the weights as well as the scales carefully examined. We mention the circumstance for the purpose of advising our brethren to take this precaution. It is a good plan to contract with a scale-maker for the examination of weights and scales at certain periods. The wear and tear of weights, and consequent loss of substance, is so considerable, that this periodical examination is absolutely necessary in order to ensure accuracy, and the expense is trifling compared to the importance of guarding against accidents, and avoiding the exposure of neglect by the annoyance juries, whose visits are at uncertain periods, and who are empowered to enforce the law, although they may sometimes, as in the case above mentioned, be imperfectly acquainted with the subject.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"JUVENIS.”—The salt named chloride of barium in the London Pharmacopœia, is denominated muriate of baryta in the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia. The former name is generally adopted by scientific Chemists, the salt being considered a compound of barium and chlorine, and not of baryta and hydrochloric acid. The same opinion is also generally entertained with reference to its constitution when in solution.

M.-Camphine spirit is rectified oil of turpentine, wholly deprived of resin. Caustic potash is sometimes used in rectifying it. It becomes unfit for use after being long exposed to the air from partial oxidation and formation of the resin.

3j.-(1.) When Acidum Hydrocyanicum is ordered in a prescription, the Acid. Hydrocyanic. Dil. of the London Pharmacopoeia should be used, unless instructions to the contrary be given by the prescriber. Anhydrous Hydrocyanic Acid is never dispensed, nor could it be kept for more than a few hours without undergoing decomposition.-(2.) There is a formula in the Edinburgh and in the Dublin Pharmacopoeia for Syrupus Viola.

O.C.-We understand Coch. infant, Cochleare infantis, or child's spoonful, to mean a dessert spoonful.

B. B. B.-Respecting the gelatinization of tincture of kino, we are unable to add anything to the information contained in a paper by Mr. Redwood, vol. i., p. 399.

R.S., M.P.S.-For the mode of preparation and medicinal properties of Donovan's Liquor Hydriodatis Arsenici et Hydrargyri, see vol. ii., pp. 469

and 546.

W. C.-Bdellium is generally considered to be the produce of Amyris commiphora. It is a gum resin frequently found in chests of myrrh, and when the myrrh is not carefully sorted it is probable that both go to the mill together. We are not aware of any other purpose to which it is applied. For fuller particulars, see Pereira's Elements of Materia Medica, p. 1634.

W. B.-Dupuytren recommended for promoting the growth of hair an ointment containing tincture of cantharides.

Kepan (1.) For the means of purifying nitric and hydrochloric acids, see vol. ii., p. 355, and vol. iv., p. 520.-(2.) The word alkali is said to be derived from al and kali, signifying kali, the plant from which it was originally prepared.-(3.) An Apprentice has to pass the minor examination on becoming an Associate; see vol. ii., No. 8.-(4.) Asbestos would not answer so well as platinum in the case mentioned.

A.P.S.-(1.) The thickness of cream varies according to the temperature of the milk while it is rising. Devonshire cream, which is as thick as butter, is made at a temperature of from 90° to 100°, the pan being kept over a hot plate, or slow charcoal fire. We can give no information respecting the method by which cream is made in London.-(2). Selecta è Prescriptis. -(3). Sal ammoniac dissolved in vinegar, 3 to 3ij.

"A MEMBER" (Peterborough).-We regret that we are unable to solve the difficulties alluded to in the process of brewing for want of practical experience.

"A-CHEMIST."-A semi-transparent pomatum may be made by dissolving spermaceti in oil, regulating the proportions by the consistence required, and allowing it to cool gradually without stirring.

JOHN LINNEY, M.D.-We sent an answer by post and it was returned. "AN APPRENTICE (Exeter). We have not space to give all the details required respecting a Pharmaceutical Education; but advise our Correspondent to enter as a practical pupil in the Laboratory of the Society.

D.-An Ex-Associate can be re-admitted on payment of arrears, or may be admitted de novo, on passing the minor examination.

J. B. D. We are unable at present to detail the provisions which it may be found desirable to introduce in the Act of Parliament for the regulation of Pharmacy; but no act of the kind would be retrospective in its operation.

S. R.-K.-" A MEMBER."-Q.-No law exists to prevent Chemists being drawn for the militia. The subject of juries has not escaped our notice.

"INQUISITOR."-Gmelin's Handbuch der Chemie is not translated into English. We are not acquainted with any English work which exactly corresponds with it. Brande's Manual of Chemistry and Graham's Elements, are among the most complete. Fownes's Manual is a very good one for its size, but is rather more elementary.

"JALAPINE."-We have never heard that the College of Physicians is likely to publish a Dispensatory. We have already stated all that we know respecting the Pharmacopoeia now in course of preparation.

"AN ASSOCIATE" wishes us to recommend a good treatise on a subject of which we are ignorant, and wish to remain so.

"AN ASSOCIATE."-Pereira's Materia Medica, price £2 10s.—(2). It is optional.-(3). It is a useful book.

T. A. B.-The question cannot be satisfactorily answered without experiment, which our Correspondent should make for himself. If any thing interesting should result, he may communicate it to us for publication.

G. G.-(1.) Unguentum Hydrargyri Nitratis.-(2.) A little book has recently been published by Dr. Riadore, On the Medicinal Use of Nitrous Oxide and other Gases: several works have appeared on the Medicinal Application of Galvanism, among others one by M. Le Beaume.

We have received a new and very complete Catalogue of Chemical Apparatus, &c., from Mr. Button, of Holborn, one of the authors of the Chemical Labels noticed in a former number.

We receive regularly the British American Journal of Medical and Physical Science, printed at Montreal; and should be glad to send our journal in exchange, if the Editors would inform us by what channel to forward it.

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. IX.-MARCH 1st, 1846.

FREE TRADE IN MEDICINES.

THERE are few topics which give rise to more discussion among politicians than the tendency of restrictions, or what is termed protection in commerce. While some persons contend that the control of the legislature in such matters is necessary in order to preserve a just equilibrium, and protect vested interests, others assert that this interference cripples individual exertion, checks the prosperity of commerce in general, and thus injures the public. It is not our intention to discuss the merits of this intricate question, but we advert to it for the purpose of pointing out the fallacy of a notion which we have heard expressed; namely, that the present is an unfavourable time for attempting to introduce legislation with reference to Pharmacy, because the tendency of the age is rather to remove restrictions than to interfere with "the liberty of the subject" in commercial matters.

The sale of medicines in this country is an illustration of free trade to the utmost possible extent, and the legislation which we advocate consists in obliging those who perform this office to fulfil certain conditions; consequently such legislation would in one respect interfere with the unlimited freedom which now exists. But the question is entirely distinct from that of free trade in corn or other ordinary merchandize, inasmuch as the interference proposed is not in fact a restriction on trade, but a restriction on ignorance. It is not our object to create a monopoly, and to limit the number of Pharmaceutical Chemists, but to oblige those who embark in the business to possess the needful qualification. the first instance, this might for a short time operate as a check on the number of adventurers in the field, as the necessity of education would shut out incompetent persons from the privilege of commencing business. But it would not limit the number of 2 c

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competent Chemists, and in the course of a few years the body would enjoy a higher position on account of the improved education introduced by law; and this would induce a superior class of men to join the ranks, amply providing for all the wants of the public. We are not therefore considering a fiscal or commercial question, affecting the revenue of the nation or the consumption of commodities. The sale of drugs would be as free and unlimited under the new system as it is at present; but it would be in more competent hands, and the regular Chemists and Druggists would become by law a distinct body, instead of being, as they now are, associated in the public mind with persons possessing no qualification except the coloured show-bottles.

The creation of this distinction is no more than an act of justice to those who are entitled by their education to the confidence of the public; and the existence of the distinction would be quite as advantageous to the public at large as to the Chemists themselves.

The remedies employed for the relief of disease are weapons of life or death, according to the skill and accuracy with which they are administered. It would, therefore, be an insult to common sense to attempt to prove, that a competent knowledge of their nature and properties is absolutely necessary in Dispensers of Medicine. In all cases in which life and health are concerned, it is the duty of the Legislature to take every practicable precaution for the security of the public. This duty is quite as important as the protection of commercial interests, with which, in the present instance, it would not interfere. As we observed in our last number, the law which enforces the education of Physicians is nugatory so long as it is not extended equally to those who prepare the prescriptions; and the removal of this inconsistency is all that we claim on behalf of our body. We inadvertently included Surgeons in the above observation (page 338), which is not strictly correct, as there is no Act of Parliament enforcing the powers of the College, although the authority of the Charter, backed by public opinion, is in effect almost equivalent to an Act.