NAFTALAN.

An Investigation of Naftalan, by Dr. L. Spiegel and Dr. Max Naphtali.-This ointment basis is obtained by fractional distillation as a product of the mineral oil industry. Observations regarding its therapeutic value are numerous and very favorable as to its beneficent effects in the treatment of eczema, itch, herpes and burns. Very little, however, has been done until lately in investigating its chemistry. As an examination of a somewhat extensive character, only that of Aufrecht can be considered. In an article, which appeared in Chemiker Zeitung, Vol. XXIV, No. 1, Spiegel and Naphtali have given their results of a very thorough work on the subject. The most interesting and important points are mentioned below:

Chemical and Physical Properties.-Naftalan is a plastic mass of semi-solid consistency. In reflected light it shows a brown-black color with a greenish fluorescence. Thin layers are transparent and of a yellowish-brown color. The odor is not very pronounced in the cold, becoming stronger, however, when heated, and then resembles that of tar. The melting point was found to be between 110-114°C, and then proved to have a spec. grav. of 0.744. At common temperature the spec. grav. was placed at 0.92 to 0.94. The usual fat solvents dissolve it only partially. In chloroform, for instance, the solubility was found to be 25 per cent. On evaporating this solution, a semifluid mass remains, by which it becomes apparent that only the lower melting fractions were taken up by the solvent. Of interest is the solvent action of alcohol, as by this agent small quantities of a crystalline compound could be isolated, which was subsequently characterized as a soap of palmitic and stearic acids. The presence of sulphur is attributed by Spiegel and Naphtali to thiophene compounds, and by this theory the means was given to them to work out a qualitative test for the distinction of naftalan from similar mineral fats that are free from such compounds. To carry out this test, naftalan is dissolved in benzol, in which it is soluble, with yellow coloration showing a strong blue fluorescence. On now adding concentrated sulphuric acid and shaking, the color of the benzol solution will change to brown, and finally, that is, in case of an excess of acid, turn almost colorless. The blue fluorescence, however, will be perceptible, same as previous to the addition of the sulphuric acid. If now a little isatin is added to the garnet-colored layer of sulphuric acid, the color of the latter will be observed to change to a deep brown, which is so intense that, even on large dilution with water, it will be found to be only slightly transparent. In making this test, it is understood that the benzol used has to be entirely free from thiophene.

Very favorable, also, appeared the emulsifying and hycroscopic properties of naftalan, as it absorbs 25 per cent of moisture if treated with water in excess.

Naftalan as an Ointment Basis.-A substance is suited

for this so much the better, the less it deteriorates with age and the less other substances incorporated with it are changed in course of time. To test this experimentally for the substance in question, a 10 per cent potassium iodide ointment was made, in which the salt was previously brought into a concentrated solution by the aid of water. Potassium iodide was selected for the experiment on account of the readiness by which even a trace of free iodine can be detected in case a change should have taken place. No decomposition, however, was noticeable even on standing for four months.

Naftalan as an Aseptic Agent.-These properties have also been closely studied by the investigators, who, for the purpose of making comparative tests, charged a number of test-tubes with a gelatin jelly. In some tubes the jelly was subsequently covered by a layer of naftalan, and all were then set aside at breeding temperature. While the jelly in the tubes protected by the layer of naftalan was found, on microscopical examination, to be perfectly free from growth of bacteria, the jelly devoid of the protection was filled with miasmic colonies.

In Summarizing the Results of Their Examination they consider naftalan an almost perfectly pure mineral fat, which, owing to its perfect consistency, the facility of its emulsification, its hycroscopic properties and the protection which it affords to substances incorporated with it for medication, as well as on account of its aseptic qualities, may be regarded as a highly recommendable substance for an ointment basis. [Translated from Chem. Ztg., for the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST, by Dr. E. GREBE, Analytical Chemist.

MATRIMONY.

Seaton-Moore.-Mr. Thadeus Kosciusco Seaton, of Westcliff, Colo., was married, December 25, to Miss Carolyn Moore, of Fort Collins, Colo. Mr. Seaton is a prosperous pharmacist at Westcliff, which place will be the home of the newly wedded couple.

Reflections.

The clerk who performs disagreeable duties with good grace is certain to win the appreciation of his

master.

Success secured by good luck rather than good management, is as quickly lost by bad luck and bad management.

The man who courts trade in an agreeably solicitous manner is more apt to get it than the one who courts it in a disagreeable, independent one.

The smallest child that comes as a customer, if kindly treated, may prove a sufficiently good advertiser to secure the permanent patronage of its parents.

The druggist who treats his clerks pleasantly and kindly will be sure to see a reflection of his own actions in the manner in which the clerks treat his customers. [Exchange.

Balsam Copaiva, 10 grms..

......1c.

Bismuth Subnitrate, I grm. equals 15 grs......
Camphor Monobrom., I grm. equals s15 grs
Carbo. Spongiæ pulv., 10 grms. equal 150 grs
Chininum Sulph., 1 grm. equals 15 grs.
Chininum Valer., I grm. equals 15 grs..
Cinchonidin Sulph., 1 grm. equals 15 grs
Cocaine Hydrochlor., I grm. equals 15 grs.
Extract Belladonna, I grm. equals 15 grs
Extract Hyoscyamus, I grm equals 15 grs
Flor. Chamomile Vulg, 100 grms. equal 150 grs.

....2/2c.

Fol. Digitalis pulv., 10 grms equal 150 grs...........2c.
Guaiacol Carb., 1 grm. equals 15 grs
Hydrargyrum Bichlor., 1 grm. equals 15 grs..

Vials up to 200 grms....

Vials from 300 to 500 grms..

.....Ốc. ..I1C. ..22c.

..6c.

A few years ago the writer had occasion to present a prescription for compounding in a Berlin pharmacy. The same prescription was subsequently filled in St. Louis. We noticed something in the demeanor of the local druggist which convinced us that he considered his price low when he asked one dollar for the prescription. He then asked us if we would satisfy his curiosity by telling him what we paid for filling the same prescription in Berlin. He was surprised when we replied forty-eight cents, or two marks.

The

Board of Pharmacy Members and the A. Ph. A. -Just at the present time the pharmacy laws exist in practically all of the States and Territories. Thus, we must look upon the members of the boards of pharmacy as pharmacists holding a rather firm grip upon the destinies of their profession. true purpose of a just pharmacy law is to protect the public and better the condition of the druggists. Thus, it becomes the duty of board members to keep in touch and remain informed on all pharmaceutical affairs relative to legislation affecting the trade and education advancing the members of the profession.

It requires no argument to demonstrate that the American Pharmaceutical Association is by far the leading organization of this country, in the line of educational and legal pharmacy. In the Arkansas Department of the MEYER Brothers DRUGGIST for March, our correspondent informs us that a large portion of board members have not as yet joined the A. Ph. A. We are confident that this condition of affairs is due to the fact that the members have not been personally invited to affiliate with the national association.

We shall be surprised if the committee on membership fails to present a long list of applications of board members at the meeting next May.

Mail Packages are Very Numerous at the present time, and it seems strange that people do not learn to securely wrap articles intended for transportation by means of the mail service. The experience of the Post Office Department and of those who receive a large number of mail packages, show that many arti

cles are lost through carelessness in packing. People do not seem to realize that a package must undergo considerable pressure and many hard knocks during the extraordinary experience of a mail bag.

Consul-General Jno. Goodnow, of Shanghai, informs this Government that many American packages are lost on account of the postal rules in that country. It seems that the Chinese Post will not take damaged parcels for interior points; thus many goods are not forwarded after reaching that port.

Since our readers frequently have occasion to send goods by mail, we feel that they should make use of their skill and practice in the wrapping of drugs, and see that every article prepared for post is securely protected against damage. Another caution which the Post Office Department systematically advocates is marking on every package the name and address of the party sending the same.

Medical Books of Interest to Pharmacists.—While members of the drug trade have frequent occasion to consult works on therapeutics and other departments of medicine, they seldom have their attention called to those books written for the entertainment of the doctor. Among the works of the latter class which appeal strongly to the honorable member of the medical profession, is "The Doctor's Window." It is a collection of poems by the doctor, for the doctor and about the doctor. It is edited by Ina Russelle Warren and enriched with an introduction by the late Dr. Wm. Pepper, of Philadelphia. So far as we are informed, no similar work for the pharmaceutical profession has ever been prepared. Many of the poems in the book before us, however, appeal as much, if not more, to the pharmacists than they do to the physician; thus, we feel that "The Doctor's Window" is most decidedly a medical book of interest to the pharmacists. It is published by Chas. Wells Boulton, of Buffalo, N. Y., and the price is $2.50. Mention of other medical books of interest to pharmacists were made on page 328 of the November, and page 36 of the February issues.

Ohio Pharmacists to be Made Doctors.-A bill is before the legislature in that State which will have the effect, provided it becomes a law, of transforming into physicians all the pharmacists of the State. It is not likely that the bill will meet with the approval of the legislature, but it is another example of the queer ideas relative to the pharmaceutical profession, which the legislators have. The section which interests our readers is as follows:

Section 4403 f-Any person shall be regarded as practicing medicine or surgery or midwifery within the meaning of this act who shall use the words or letters "Dr.," "Doctor," "Professor," or " M. D.," "M. B., or any other title, in connection with his name which in any way represents him as engaged in the practice of medicine or surgery or midwifery, in any of its branches, or shall prescribe, direct or recommend for the use of any person, any drug or medicine, appliance, application, operation or treatment, of whatever nature, for the cure or relief of any wound, fracture or bodily injury, infirmity or disease.

A Short Olive Crop is the result of a spread of the fly known as Mosca Olearia, in South France. This fly deposits its eggs in the green olive fruit.

The grub destroys the olive, or at least renders it of an inferior quality for table use. For some years, edible olives have been declining in price, but the pest just mentioned has caused an advance to former prices which averaged 38c per kilogram.

Mr. Albert P. Skinner, the Consul at Marseilles, reports to our Government that no effort is being made to counteract the influence of the olive pest. The fruit growers look upon the operations of the insect as a dispensation of Providence, and feel that they must accept its depredations in meekness of spirit. The Consul suggests that spraying the trees with American spraying machines would effectually exterminate the insect.

More Newspaper Science. The Scientific American says: "The Board of Health of New York City has received a communication from the Board of Health in Michigan stating that twenty clerks of that State who were working over old volumes of records were taken ill with consumption and died. The books were examined by a bacteriologist and were found to be full of tubercules and bacilli, and it is thought they became infected from a clerk who had consumption and who had the habit of moistening his thumb with saliva when turning the pages."

The expression "tubercules and bacilli" smacks of the newspaper reporter's language, and we surmise our esteemed exchange did not carefully consider this item before giving it indorsement.

More Than a Dozen Pharmacy Laws Proposed for New York State.-Missouri pharmacists and their Illinois friends are startled at each session of the legislature by the number of bills introduced which more or less affect the druggists. It is the New York pharmacist who has an undisputed right to be startled when he reads about the "dozen or more bills proposed for the control of his calling." The most distinctive feature of the whole matter is the evident intent and purpose of the bills. Most of them are innocent upon the face, but careful analysis shows that they are simply devices for the purpose of enabling politicians to share some of the reputed large profits of the retail druggists.

Three Pharmacy Laws exist in New York State. As a rule, one law is sufficient to cause dissatisfaction among many pharmacists. Complaints are evidently tripled in the Empire State where druggists and drug clerks must register whenever they pass from the jurisdiction of one board to that of another. Governor Roosevelt has been petitioned to appoint a commission whose duty it shall be to report ways and means for remedying the present evil. The "Rough Rider" Governor had perplexing experiences while in Cuba, and we trust will be able to deal with the present ones as successfully as he did with those coming his way during the Spanish war.

"Publish More Examination Questions”—is the request of several of our readers. We wish to inform one and all that the few questions we publish are simply sample sets. They are intended to give our

readers a general idea of the character of the examinations. They cannot possibly constitute a short road to registration. Those of our readers who are anxious to make a creditable examination should read some of the articles we publish on how to prepare for a number of the pharmacy board examinations. These must not only be read and studied, but the instructions followed out patiently and conscientiously.

Prescription Commissions in San Francisco.— When the A. Ph. A. visited the Golden Gate in 1889 many of the Eastern members were shocked and the local druggists pitied on account of the extent of the practice of giving physicians a percentage on the prescriptions which they send to a drug store. Time does not seem to have entirely eradicated the pernicious practice. A physician has recently sued a San Francisco druggist for $300.00, which he claims is due him as commissions. The case was decided against the doctor, but we are informed that some physicians receive their commissions regularly and have no occasion to bring suit.

The St. Louis Apothecaries' Association Wins in the lawsuit brought by the State claiming that the local organization is a trust. Judge Ferris holds that the suit was brought against the organization, but asks for judgment against each member. This technicality causes him to throw the case out of court. Thus, the matter probably drops, but not until the St. Louis druggists, aided by their friends in other branches of the trade, have spent a large sum of money for lawyers' fees.

Life as a Drug Clerk in England Worse Than War in Africa.-A pharmacist at the front, in South Africa, writes home to a London pharmaceutical journal and gives an interesting account of the many exciting incidents of life in that section of the world. He speaks of the hardships of war, but grows enthusiastic over the radiant tropical sunsets and asserts: "It was better than being in a chemist's (pharmacist's) shop working to late hours at night."

Hawaiian Pharmacy is in the hands of those who have the price to pay the license. There are no pharmaceutical associations in existence in Hawaii, and the only special law governing the drug business is the statute requiring the vender of drugs to pay a fee of $40.00 for a license to sell poisonous drugs. No doubt the United States government will urge the requirement of professional qualifications in addition to the monetary consideration.

A Permanent Home for the Drug Business is what some of the Chicago druggists have in mind. The idea originated with Mr. T. N. Jamieson, whose executive ability in business and politics has become apparent during the past several years. We sincerely trust that the project will be pushed to maturity. Such action on the part of the profession in Chicago will no doubt stimulate the druggists of other cities to follow the good example.

STRAY ITEMS AND COMMENTS.

The Perpetual Light apparatus manufactured by an Indiana inventor who sold stock to favored friends, has again attracted attention. It is now claimed that lightning bugs were used to supply illumination.

English Drug Store Signs conflict with local laws when they project over the pavement. We have similar regulations in this country, but they do not seem to be vigorously enforced.

Olive Oil has been disappearing from an English dockyard. Those in charge explain that it has leaked out during a period of a dozen or more years. They are, however, unable to explain the disappearance of over 200 gallons in a single night.

Irish Drug Clerks have an organization but are unable to find a suitable name for it. We suggest that they correspond with the secretary of the St. Louis Drug Clerks' Society, which organization has thus far been able to meet and overcome all difficulties in its path.

Whale Baths are recommended as a new cure for rheumatism. The patient bathes in the whale blubber. This is by no means a new remedy. The oldfashioned method was to cut a hole through the skin of the dead whale and let the patient remain for several hours in the whale fat.

American Paint will cover the greater part of the Paris Exposition. This is due to American enterprise in devising means of spreading paint at a lower figure than can be done by European painters. The value of the material is about the same, so that the difference in the bids is due to American ingenuity.

Looking For Large Profits.-The American Chemical Manufacturing Co. is the name of a new firm with the ambition of controlling those medical goods widely advertised and usually considered as specials. It is asserted that the firm, with a capital of $500,000, will handle only such goods as show a large margin of profit.

This is an Age of Economy.-The firm of Swift & Co. have made an annual report showing that during last year over four million pounds of fertilizer, six million pounds of glue, twelve million pounds of artificial butter and thirty-one million pounds of crude fat were manufactured from the so called by-products. This means that the above articles were saved from what has been going to waste in former years.

How to Exterminate Rats.-A very good suggestion has been made by a scientist who says that rats should be exterminated immediately to prevent the spread of the plague. The question arises, how can we dispose of these rodents? Various devices are suggested and methods proposed, but we fail to see any announcement based on the experience of governments in exterminating other pests. If the government will offer a good bounty for rat tails, the problem will be solved by the boys of the countries concerned.

The Social Standard of the Pharmacists in England is by no means satisfactory to those engaged in the calling of compounding and dispensing medicines. At least, so we judge from the following expression in a letter published by one of our London exchanges: "Dispensing is the only purely profes sional side of his calling, yet it is a truth, and one which might furnish an ironical comment on the aims and position of the Pharmaceutical Society, that those of its licentiates whose sole business it is to dispense, and who cannot in any way be regarded as tradesmen, are the worst paid and the least regarded of the pharmaceutical community."

A Novel and Interesting Consumption Cure. — New York City has many clubs - one of them is the "Suicide Club," whose members take their own lives at appointed dates. Another acts in the opposite direction and is called the "Century Club "-its members endeavor to live one hundred years. A woman belonging to the latter organization suggests that the best preventive for tuberculosis is what we call high living and late hours. No doubt this is an attractive treatment, but we believe the readers of MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST will profit by giving more attention to the rules and regulations for the prevention of tuberculosis, which we published on page 341 of the November issue.

Pharmacists Who Are Fishermen can now make money — at least, we suggest the possibility of doing So. It seems that a French chemist has discovered a method of manufacturing pearls and other ornaments out of fish scales. The United States Consulate, at Lyons, informs us that the supply of fish scales is by no means equal to the demand made by manufacturers. He says that a good price is paid. For the benefit of Dr. O. A. Wall, Sr., and other successful fishermen in the pharmaceutical profession, we will state that the scales should be sprinkled with salt as soon as removed from the fish, and packed in tin cans. For further information, address U. S. Consulate Covert, Lyons, France.

Secure the Co-operation of Physicians in your effort to dispense medicines of proper quality and correct identity. A Louisville pharmacist is doing this by having the following printed upon the back of the prescription blanks used by such physicians as look favorably upon the plan :

Take this prescription to a competent druggist and be willing to pay him a fair price for it. Underbidding in medicine should be discouraged. Drugs vary in price as much as dry goods, and, of course, as much in quality But there is this important difference: you can form an idea as to the value of cloth from its appearance, but you must take your prescription on trust. While many honest druggists have felt compelled to enter the cut-rate competition, much to their financial injury-possibly ruin-the system offers a strong temptation for the less scrupulous to save themselves by using cheap and inefficient preparations, thereby doing injustice both to the physician and the patient.

We are anxious to see how generally the physicians of this country will take kindly to the innovation. We suggest that the pharmacists also have placed on the blank: "This prescription is not to be refilled without an order from the prescriber.”