On one occasion he took as much as ten drops. The following day he was seized with pains and cramp in his legs, spasmodic pains in the stomach. His head was confused, extremities cold; pulse 130, but feeble. He gradually became weaker, notwithstanding the stimulants and mild aperients which were administered to diminish the action of the poison, and on the following evening he was found by his medical attendants in a dying state, from which he did not rally, but expired about ten o'clock in the morning. It was supposed that the effect of the medicine had been cumulative, as the doctor had taken it regularly for several days, and but little, if any, effect was perceptible until after he had taken the last dose, which by itself could not have been sufficient to occasion death.

POISONING BY SAVIN (JUNIPERUS SABINA).

THE Medical Gazette of August 8th, contains a detailed account of the death of an unmarried woman, aged 24, who was supposed to have taken savin for the purpose of procuring abortion, and died in consequence as well as the child. She had taken a lodging at Hampstead with a nurse who had engaged to attend her in her expected confinement. This event, however, occurred prematurely, and the symptoms, and some other circumstances, having created suspicion, an inquest was held on the bodies. The fact that savin had been taken was discovered by Mr. Alfred S. Taylor, who having in vain tested the contents of the stomach for other poisons, observed, on using a microscope, the peculiar structure of the savin leaf with the glands and characteristic fibres. The verdict of the jury was to the effect that deceased died from taking savin, but for what purpose it was taken they could not tell, and that the child died from natural causes.

Savin is one of those poisons which ought never to be sold without a written order from a medical man. It is not unfrequently applied for either in substance or in the form of tincture, by persons who are unacquainted with its medicinal properties, and merely have a vague notion that it produces abortion. When parties apply for it in this way, and give no satisfactory account of the purpose for which it is required, it is the duty of the Chemist to refuse to sell it, and also to state that it is a dangerous poison. Mr. Taylor stated in his evidence at the inquest, "Savin is often taken by ignorant persons to cause abortion: when it produces abortion it generally destroys the mother, and sometimes kills the woman without causing the expulsion of the child."

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL LATIN GRAMMAR, being an easy Introduction to Medical Latin, the London Pharmacopoeia, and the perusal of Physicians' Prescriptions. By ARNOLD JAMES COOLEY. London: Groombridge and Sons, 5, Paternoster Row. Small 8vo, pp. 132.

THE design of this little book is identical with that of Leach's Introduction to the London Pharmacopoeia, the third edition of which we noticed, vol. ii., p. 667. In both books the rules of grammar are illustrated by examples taken from the Pharmacopoeia and Prescriptions, the idioms occurring in Medical Latin are explained, and a Vocabulary of Medical Terms is added. So great a similarity is observable between the two books that it might almost be supposed that the author of the Pharmaceutical Latin Grammar belonged to the Leach family.

TRAITÉ DE L'ART DE FORMULER; ou Notions de Pharmacologie appliqué à la Médecine. Par le Docteur MIALHE, Pharmacien, Professeur Agrégé à la Faculté de Médecine, ExPharmacien en Chef de l'Hôpital St. Antoine. Paris: Fortin, Masson, & Cie., Place de l'Ecole de Médecine. Lyon: Savy Jeune. Small 8vo, pp. 220.

The object of this work is to point out the various reactions of substances on each other, in reference to the combinations adopted in prescriptions, with remarks on the therapeutic action. of remedies, illustrated and supported by researches and experiments. The work is calculated to assist the Prescriber, and at the same time contains much information which is valuable to the Chemist.

THE ECONOMY OF HEALTH; with a Chemical Exposition of Air, Water, and other Circumstances affecting the Sanatory Condition of the City of York. By W. WHITE, Chemist, York. 8vo, pp. 27.

A useful popular pamphlet.

THE PATENT CARRARA WATER.

AMONG the novelties of the day, may be mentioned, the introduction of a beverage, one of the recommendations to which consists in its holding bicarbonate of lime in solution. It was formerly supposed that absolute purity was desirable, and distilled water was recommended on this account, especially to patients suffering from calculous disorders. It has, however, been for some time admitted, that a certain amount of calcareous matter is rather beneficial than otherwise, and the patentee of the CARRARA WATER argues on this assumption. Taking a chemical view of the subject, we should think lime preferable to soda as an alkali in cases of gout, but we leave medical men to discuss the merits of the question.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE MOTH POWDER TRICK.-The method adopted for selling this powder is ingenious. A traveller calls and recommends it in strong terms, requesting permission to send half a dozen or a dozen packets on sale or return. The goods are sent, with an invoice, on the corner of which is written, "Sale or return three months." A day or two after the expiration of the three months, the traveller calls for the money. He is told that none of the powder is sold, and he may take it away. This he declines, as the goods were not returned within the three months, and in the course of the day a lawyer's letter is sent, demanding the immediate payment of the amount. Several of our Correspondents have been caught in this way, without having caught any moth with the powder.

J. C.—(1.) Calcined magnesia and Epsom salts when combined in mixtures sometimes solidify (see vol. iv., page 312).-(2.) The other prescription in which 3j of bicarbonate of potash is ordered with oxym. scillæ 3iv, is an unusual one, but by no means dangerous. An acetate of potash would be formed, which would act as a mild diuretic.-(3.) J. C. wants another formula for marking ink, without preparation.

"PHILANTHROPOS."-The notion of the electrical origin of "Fairy rings" is a very old one. The subject does not come within our province.

W. S.-To obviate the confusion in the nomenclature of the Pharmacopoeia respecting the Aq. menthæ V. P. and P., it should be understood that aq. menthæ means aq. menthæ viridis, or mint water; aq. menthæ p., peppermint water; aq. menthæ pul., penny-royal water.

"THUNDER."-A formula for a STORM GLASS is published vol. ii., p. 777. J. ADAMSON.-We are not aware of any Chemical difference between the two solutions mentioned.

"EQUIVALENT."-Cuff's Logometric Scale of Chemical Equivalents is one of the best of the kind."

"AN APPRENTICE."-In the cases alluded to, the weights of the atoms are given in the first column, and the proportions in one hundred parts in the second. The composition of hydrochloric acid is thus described :

One equivalent of hydrogen............ 1 or 2.7

36 or 97.3

--

Thus, as 37 parts of hydrochloric acid contain one of hydrogen, 100 parts will contain 2.7. In the other case alluded to-hydrocyanic acid, as 27 parts of the acid contain one of hydrogen, 100 parts will contain 3.7.

F.R. inquires the cause of diluted hydrocyanic acid acquiring a pale orange colour. [The spontaneous decomposition of hydrocyanic acid, especially when in a state of great purity, has been already noticed in this journal, (vol. ii., page 330), and we presume the effect noticed by our Correspondent, must be the commencement of such a change.]

R. R.—(1.) By the process of displacement, infusions may be made of any required strength, and the addition of a certain proportion of spirit, probably one-fifth, prevents their spoiling. We are not acquainted with any better mode of making concentrated infusions, a class of preparations which we never recommend for general use, although for travelling, or in cases of emergency, they may be a convenient substitute for the ordinary infusions.(2.) We are not acquainted with any recent work on colours and dyeing.

L. M. N. inquires how he may become a good practical Chemist? [Enter as a practical pupil in the laboratory of the PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. See Notice inside the cover of this journal.]

"AMICUS."-Extractum sarze liquidum is a preparation, the strength of which is arbitrary. We believe it is generally made in such proportions, that 3ij represent Ziv of the decoction. It is sometimes sold exactly half the strength. We believe these two strengths are the most commonly adopted, and of the two, the strongest is generally preferred. When ordered in a prescription, the dose prescribed will generally denote which is intended. In case of doubt, it is easy to inquire.

"FERRUM" alludes to the confusion existing between the citrate and ammonio-citrate of iron, and inquires which ought to be used when the citrate is ordered. We can only repeat what we have said before, that we believe the neutral citrate is rarely if ever ordered intentionally. The ammoniocitrate having been unfortunately introduced under the name of a Citrate, the latter name is occasionally used when the former salt is intended. We can give no positive instructions as to what should be done in each case, but it should be the object of the dispenser to fulfil the intentions of the prescriber whenever these can be ascertained.

"ADOLESCENS" (1.) should apply to the Secretary for his receipt.-(2.) A jet of oxygen may be ignited in an atmosphere of hydrogen.

W. H. P. (Plymouth).-(1.) Camphor being soluble in fixed oils and fats, increases the fluidity of mercurial ointment.-(2.) To detect the presence of resin in bees' wax, dissolve it out with alcohol.-(3.) We have seen a pocket microscope for botanical purposes, advertised by Mr. Abraham, 20, Lord Street, Liverpool, price £3 15s., or by post £3 17s. 6d.-(4.) We have seen no announcement of a new edition of Pereira's Materia Medica.

"HUMANITAS" suggests the publication of a caution respecting a young man who is in the habit of drinking large quantities of rectified sulphuric ether, and when under its influence becomes violent. His appearance is sometimes, but not always respectable, and he occasionally asks for as much as half a pint. We have seen a person of this description, and recognised the smell of ether as soon as he entered the shop. He asked for half an ounce in the same quantity of water, which he swallowed instantly, observing that he had a spasm. Humanitas mentions that a friend of his gave him half a pint of a solution of Epsom salts with a little ether in it. We cannot approve of this plan, for if the price of ether were charged, it would be unfair, and if not, the substitution would be detected by the low price we can suggest no means of checking the bad habit, but refusing to sell ether to the young man at all. Such customers ought to be cautioned not to go near a gas light, as they are surrounded by an inflammable atmosphere.

"JAPONICA."-The London College has not published a new Pharmacopoeia since 1836.

A. P. S. (Horncastle).-(1.) The names of candidates who pass the examinations will be published.-(2.) The examination in Botany is confined to ordinary medicinal plants.-(3.) CHEMISTRY versus CHYMISTRY. A.P.S. inquires why we adopt the former mode of spelling, when Johnson and Walker give the latter. The derivation generally given, is from the Greek word Kew, to fuse, melt or burn, or кvw, another mode of spelling the same word. Webster says, this derivation is a random guess, and that the word is derived from the Arabic KIMIA, "the occult art," for which reason he writes the word CHIMISTRY. This is in accordance with the French, Spanish, Latin, Italian, and Portuguese orthography. The preponderance of custom in this country as well as in Germany, is in favour of the E, which at all events is quite as correct as the Y.

C. (Oxford).—(1.) What is the best work on Algebra? [Bonnycastle's Algebra was celebrated in our time. Probably it may have been superseded. We think any bookseller in Oxford would give the needful information, if not, try Cambridge.]-(2.) Fleming and Tibbins's is the best pronouncing French Dictionary.

"AN ASSOCIATE."-(1.) A new edition of Davy's Agricultural Chemistry has lately been published by his brother Dr. Davy.-(2.) Phillips's Geology. "TYRO" inquires how to make Dr. Gregory's powder of the light pink colour adopted by some Chemists. [By keeping it a few years, the action of the magnesia on the rhubarb will produce the result so much desired by our Correspondent.}

"A WELL-WISHER TO THE PROFESSION" complains, that while a provision exists in the Charter for the admission, without examination, of Chemists who were in business before the date of the Charter, this does not extend to Assistants and Apprentices. He considers this an injustice, and tantamount to an exclusion from the advantages of the Society. [The injustice consists in offering to aspiring young men the great benefit of an examination with a certificate of qualification, which when obtained will be found to be more advantageous than a certificate of membership obtained by purchase. We contend that the rising generation have no reason to complain of the exertions which are being made to raise their character, qualifications, and respectability. The examinations cannot be too soon universally adopted. The prospect of an examination is an inducement to study-the result of study is knowledge-knowledge is power-and power properly applied produces wealth.]

Advertisements to Mr. CHURCHILL, Princes Street, Soho.

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

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.

VOL. V.-No. IV.-OCTOBER 1st, 1845.

THE SCHOOL OF PHARMACY.

FOURTH SESSION.

WHEN the School of Pharmacy was founded, four years ago, it was considered expedient to confine the courses of lectures, as well as the fees for attendance, within the narrowest possible limits. The object was, in the first instance, to excite in the minds of the Associates and Apprentices an interest in science, and a desire for improvement, and to encourage the attendance of lectures, without trespassing improperly on the hours of business.

While this object has been constantly kept in view up to the present time, the Council have not been unmindful of the ulterior purpose for which the School was designed, namely as a national establishment for the cultivation of Pharmacy, and the education of Chemists and Druggists. One of the difficulties they have had to contend against, was that of maintaining a middle course which should promote each of these objects without frustrating the other. It is obvious that if the instruction had been made too extended, and the terms too high, the Students would have been discouraged from attending, and the School would probably have been deserted On the other hand, it was necessary to guard against the other extreme of lowering the standard so much as to destroy the character of the School.

During the three sessions which are past, the arrangements for furnishing instruction in every branch of science connected with Pharmacy, have gradually progressed to a state of completion, and the institution at this time possesses the means of carrying out effectively all that was contemplated in its formation.

The courses of lectures have purposely been so arranged as not