Coca. mm. long, margin entire; lower surface reticulate; brownish-green.... Uva Ursi. Variable in size and shape, ovate, obovate-oblong to lanceolate, 2 to 7 cm. long, margin entire; green to brownish; with a curved line on each side of the midrib..... Obovate to oblong, 10 to 25 mm. long, margin with 2 to 6 dentations on each side; light-green.. Ovate-oblong, to 5 cm. long, with long petiole, margin finely crenulate; whitish to grayish-green, downy....Salvia. Rolled into small balls or cylinders; grayish-green, bluish-green to blackish....... ..... ...... Oblong or oblong-lanceolate, acute at both ends, 5 to 10 cm. long, margin entire, somewhat wavy; pellucidpunctate; brownish or brownishgreen.... Broadly oval, about 5 cm. long, margin entire; rough on both sides, glossy on upper and hairy on under surface; brownish-green.... Linear, about 25 mm. long, margin revolute; dark-green above, whitish woolly, glandular, with prominent midrib underneath.... Lanceolate, short-petiolate, 7 to 10 cm. long, to 25 mm. broad, margin entire and somewhat wavy; thin, smooth, and often with scars from insects. Ovate, petiolate, about 5 cm. long, margin entire; thick, glaucous, palegreen.... Roundish-oval or obovate, about 4 cm. long, 2 or more cm. broad, margin slightly serrate with oppressed spicular teeth; smooth, glossy, green or brownish-green... Damiana. Thea. Laurus. Boldus. Rosmarinus. Duboisia, Manzanita. Gaultheria. ulus; Myrtaceae. Only the leaves from the older parts of the tree should be used, as those from the younger branches are comparatively worthless. — H. Indigenous to Australia, but now cultivated in all subtropical countries. D. This drug has already been mentioned under Group XXXIV, leafy twigs, as it comes into trade in that shape in the bales; but as it is usually garbled before reaching the retail dealer, the latter obtains it as leaves alone, and therefore its description has been postponed to this place. The leaves are petiolate, lanceolate scytheshaped, from 15 to 30 cm. long, more or less rounded at the base, tapering at apex, margin entire, coriaceous, pellucid-punctate or glandular, grayish-green; a leaf from the older parts of the tree is represented in half natural size in the illustration; odor strongly camphoraceous and the taste pungently aromatic, bitter and astringent, leaving a cooling taste in the mouth. A leaf from the younger branches is represented in figure (b), also half natural size; such leaves are ovate, faintly cordate at base, rounded or only slightly pointed at apex, bluish-green, thinner and less glandular than the scythe-shaped leaves, but otherwise similar except that they are far less active medicinally, for which reason they should not be used. In the bales twigs and unopened buds, of [To be Continued.] PHARMACEUTICAL EXAMINATIONS. The Pharmaceutical Examinations in Germany. -The system of pharmaceutical examination and instruction was entirely rearranged after the foundation of the German Empire. The regulations now in force were issued in 1875 by the "Bundesrath," and have authority throughout the whole empire. A young man desiring to enter upon a pharmaceutical career must have the certificate of a "Gymnasium" or "Realgymnasium," which is obtainable by passing the "Untersekunda," and entitling him to serve only one year in the army (Einjaehrig-Freiwilligen-Zeugniss). Those who have passed the corresponding examination in a "Realschule," where Latin is not an obligatory subject of instruction, are bound to undergo a special examination in that language. The term of apprenticeship is three years, but it is shortened to two years for students who have passed the matriculation examination of a university (Abiturientenexamen). The practical and scientific instruction of an apprentice is the duty of his master. In the larger cities like Berlin, apprentices, besides the instruction given by their masters, have the opportunity of systematical instruction by special teachers, and those who are deficient in their knowledge can have recourse to the schools of pharmacy (Pharmazieschulen), which are carried on by some pharmacists in Thuringia and Alsace-Lorraine. In several districts pharmacists have established private examinations of their apprentices in order to ascertain in what respect they are deficient. Having passed the three years of apprenticeship, the next step is to pass the first examination for assistantship (Gehülfenprüfung). The board of examiners for the "Gehülfenprüfung" is composed of one medical officer (commonly the medical councilor to the president of the province, "Regierungsbezirk," the Regierungsrath, and Medizinalrath) and two pharmacists, one of whom must own or conduct a pharmacy. The members of the board are appointed by the authorities charged with the control of the pharmacies of the district-i. e., in Prussia and Bavaria by the "Regierungspraesident," in Saxony by the "Kreishauptmann," etc. There are seventy-one boards for the assistants' examination in the Empire, in Prussia one in each "Regierungsbezirk." The examinations are held four times a year. The assistants' examination is divided into three parts, the written, the practical, and the oral examination. In the written part the candidate must elaborate three themes-one belonging to pharmaceutical chemistry, one to botany or pharmacognosy, and one to physics. A collection of such themes is published by the Prussian Ministry. In the practical part of the examination the candidate is required to read, to dispense, and to tax three prescriptions, to make a galenical or chemical preparation, and to test two chemical preparations as to their purity. In the oral part the candidate must classify several fresh or dried plants and some raw drugs and chemical preparations, explain their derivation, their adulterations, etc., translate a pharmaceutical text from Latin into German, and answer questions about the principles of botany, chemistry, physics, and legislature. Having passed this examination and obtained the position of qualified assistant (Apothekergehülfe) a period of three years must be spent in practical work in a pharmacy. Half of that period may be passed in a foreign country, and military service must also be got through. At the end of the three years the assistant is entitled to attend a university, where he passes one and a half years, and his education is concluded by the qualifying examination (pharmazeutische Staatsprüfung), for which candidates present themselves before the special examining boards connected with every university, and with some technical high schools, academies, etc. There are such examining boards in the universities of Berlin, Bonn, Breslau, Erlangen, Freiburg, Giessen, Goettingen, Greifswald, Halle, Heidelberg, Jena, Kiel, Koenigsberg, Leipzig, Marburg, München, Rostock, Strassburg, Tübingen, Wuerzberg, in the Academy of Muenster, and in the technical high schools of Brunswick, Darmstadt, Karlsruhe, and Stuttgart. The members of these boards, comprising a professsor of chemistry, a professor of physics, a professor of botany, and two pharmacists (or one pharmacist and a professor of pharmaceutical chemistry) are appointed annually by the central authorities of those federated States which have a university-i. e., the ministries of Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Wuertemberg, Baden, Hesse, MecklenburgSchwerin, Brunswick, Alsace-Lorraine, and the joint ministries of the Saxon duchies. The examinations are held twice a year, and they are subdivided into five parts: Preliminary examination, pharmaceutical technic, chemical analysis, pharmaceutical sciences, and final examination. The preliminary part consists in three themes, taken from inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and botany or pharmacognosy. In the technical part the candidate must make two galenical and two chemical pharmaceutical prepara tions. In the analytical part he must test a natural or artificial mixture by qualitative and (partly) quantitative analysis and a poisoned or adulterated organic or inorganic substance (food or medicine). All this work is done with doors locked. The examination in pharmaceutical sciences is an oral one. The candidate must demonstrate at least ten fresh or dried officinal plants, or such plants as are easily confounded with them, at least ten raw drugs, referring to their derivation, adulterations, and pharmaceutical application, and some raw materials or chemical preparations as to their adulterations, ingredients, manufacture, etc. The final examination, which is oral and in public, is a comprehensive one. The qualifying document is given by the State ministries above mentioned. The average number of pharmacists qualified each year is about 600. The number of failures is not published. As already quoted in this Journal (October 21, 1899), it is now intended to raise the educational standard by requiring the student to take the "Prima," and by prolonging and enlarging the scientific courses.[Pharmaceutical Journal. Water of ammonia is the disturbing factor in the above. Use spirit of ammonia, and a clear mixture will result. F. E. Visc. Alb.-One of our Canadian readers writes: "I have a shelf-bottle labeled F. E. Visc. Alb. Do you know of any extract having this name?" Viscum album is the mistletoe, the European plant. The dried twigs and leaves have been used in medicine for nervous affections such as chorea, hysteria and epilepsy. The American plant, viscum flavescens, has some reputation as an oxytocic (promoting parturition). The pharmaceutical preparations are: Infusion, decoction, tincture and fluid extract. Solution Manganese Phosphate.-A reader from Markham, Ontario, writes: "A physician asked me for a solution of manganese phosphate. In making it I used hydrochloric acid. Did I do right?" A solution of this salt is readily made by mixing it with water and cautiously adding hydrochloric acid (stir the mixture continually with a glass rod and add the acid, drop by drop). The result will be a manganese chloro-phosphate. The rational process would be to effect a solution by the careful addition of the eighty-five per cent phosphoric acid. Hydrochloric acid dissolves the salt more readily, basis of calculation). Multiplying these proportions by five, using fifty grains of cocaine and 450 grains of water, would yield a product measuring about one fluid ounce. Minims do not equal grains in any of the neutral solvents. We dispense liquids by volume. A little more or less in the amount dispensed makes no material difference. The physician takes it for granted that they are accurately prepared. He may be satisfied with approximations in percentage solutions, but the conscientious apothecary will expect subject is more fully discussed in the February numhis calculations to be mathematically correct. This ber, 1899. Amorphous Quinine.-A correspondent writes: "What should be dispensed for amorphous quinine? There seems to be considerable confusion in regard to this substance. My impression is that there is a proprietary article on the market under the above name. I am informed that Powers & Weightman send pure, alkaloid quinine when amorphous quinine is ordered. Merck furnishes chinoidin, while other manufacturers furnish alkaloid quinoidin.” We are glad to have a reader discuss a subject fully in asking a question. There is some reason for each of the conclusions contained in the above. "Febriline or Tasteless Syrup of Amorphous Quinine" is probably the proprietary article which he had in mind. The Pharmacopoeia describes alkaloid quinine as a white, flaky, amorphous or crystalline powder; hence, Powers & Weightman may conclude, if our correspondent is correctly informed, that if quinine is wanted this is the proper article to furnish. The Pharmacopoeia of 1880 describes chinoidin (quinoidin) as "a mixture of alkaloids, mostly amorphous." Merck and the other manufacturers agree, therefore, as quinoidin and chinoidin mean the same substance. (Dropping the final "e" from these names is in accord with the present tendency toward simplicity in orthography.) Finally, amorphous quinine is given as a synonym for chinoidin. In French and English pharmacy it is quite generally so employed. In the absence of any factor determining otherwise, we think it is the proper article to dispense. In powder form and somewhat purified it is an article of commerce. Liebig considered that it bore the same relation to quinine that "uncrystallizable sugar bears to the crystallizable." Its composition is now considered complex than this. more Bug Poetry.-Haynes, chemist, of Derby, England, drops into poetry thus: Fleas flee for fear of falling dead, FOR RETAIL DRUGGISTS. The Vermont Pharmaceutical Association is in full accord with the N. A. R. D. The Object of the N. A. R. D. is to put money into the pockets of the retail druggists. Write Secretary Wooten about it. Diamond Eczema Cure has been reduced from $8.40 to $8.00 per dozen, by the Henry Heil Chemical Co., of St. Louis. Pure Drugs.-To the Meyer Brothers Drug Company, St. Louis, Mo. Gentlemen: Have read your circular accompanying your "New Year's Greeting." You are correct in your war upon impure drugs, and that the Government of the United States ought to pay as much attention in its legislation upon that subject as upon the subject of agriculture, and constant agitation will bring the desired results. I would suggest an appeal to all the commercial bodies of the country to pass strong resolutions favoring legislation by the present Congress. It might help in that direction. Yours truly, S. A. WILLIAMS, Secretary Commercial League. Inferior Kinds of Sugar Beets.-The United States Consul, Henry W. Diederich, at Magdeburg, Germany, in a recent report to the Department of State, cautions the sugar beet raisers in this country against planting inferior kinds of sugar beet seed. The inferior beets do not yield much sugar. He mentions a number of firms from whom the best kinds can be obtained, viz.: Schreiber, Klein, Wanzleben, Dippe, Rabbethge & Giesecke, Licht and others, all of Magdeburg. Our friends would doubtless do a kind act to bring this to the notice of beet raisers in their respective neighborhoods where sugar beets are raised. "San Antonio, Tex., December 15, 1899. Mr. Thos. V. Wooten, Secretary, Chicago. Dear Sir:-At a meeting of the San Antonio Druggists' Association held December 14, 1899, it was unanimously resolved: That the success of the N. A. R. D. being dependent upon the ready and cordial co-operation of the affiliated organizations which form integral parts of said organization, that such affiliated organizations should recognize, and this association does recognize, the action of the N. A. R. D. and its executive officers as entitled, in the fullest measure, to their approval and the unanimous co-operation of their members. Yours fraternally, (Signed) JOHN PFEIFFER, Secretary." "Quincy, Ill., December 7, 1899. I take pleasure in being able to report that the retail drug trade of the city and vicinity is remarkably free from the cutrate evil. Our association is a strong one, enrolling among its members all but two of the retail firms of this city, as well as several of the most prominent ones of the county. The sale of drugs and patent medicines in this city is entirely in the hands of the retail drug trade, and we have for some ten or twelve years past secured full prices on patents. I will submit your letter to the members of our association at its regular meeting, December 13, for indorsement of the action of the national association. Long may it wave! Fraternally yours, (Signed) W. H. SCHMIEDESKAMP, Secretary Adams County Association." Internal Revenue Tax.-The N. A. R. D. has taken action on the subject of the stamp tax imposed on proprietary articles, and circulars are being sent out to have all the retail druggists take an interest in this subject and to make their wants known to the Senators and members of Congress. The drug trade section of the New York Board of Trade has also taken action and will work to the same end, viz.: to either have the tax abolished or reduced. They believe the tax should be extended to other articles which are in reality also of a proprietary character, in case it is not abolished but instead reduced. As the National Wholesale Association has also taken similar action, it is to be hoped that good will come of the movement. fairly dealt with in the imposition of this tax as per It is quite evident that the drug trade has been unschedule "B." The person who made the draft of this law evidently did not realize just what he was doing. We have called attention to this matter in the columns of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST repeatedly, and sincerely hope that the relief so greatly needed will soon be forthcoming. Wholesale Prescriptions.-There can be no doubt that of late years a very undesirable practice has sprung up of prescribing active drugs in the form of proprietary articles. That many of them are well and carefully prepared, and that there is no secret as to their composition, hardly affects the question. A drug habit is soon established, and patients who have once taken such drugs as antipyrin, sulphonal, trional and thyroid gland in the form of compressed tablets, continue to do so, in season and out of season, and with a complete disregard of the consequences. No prescription is required; their portability, their cheapness, and the facility with which they can be obtained, even in small country villages, present irresistible attractions, and they are recommended to friends and acquaintances without the slightest thought of the harm they may do or of the untoward symptoms which may result. There is no check on their use, and they are handled as carelessly and distributed as freely as so many packets of sweets. The art of writing a thoughtful and appropriate prescription is lost, and the medical man falls a victim to the wiles of the wholesale medicine vendor. That such a custom is prejudicial to the interests both of the physician and the patient is obvious. We, by Act of Parliament, insist on the pharmacist passing certain stringent examinations, and yet, when he has passed his ordeal and is duly qualified, we send him prescriptions for packets of drugs which require no skill in compounding, and could be and are distributed by the local grocer. His technical knowledge is of no avail, and he is quickly reduced to the level of the agent of wholesale manufacturers. That the physician should cease to control the treatment of his patients and should leave it in the hands of others is a very serious consideration. Each case requires individual care and attention, and the attempt to prescribe for people simply by the name of the complaint from which they are supposed to be suffering must be prejudicial to the individual. Medicine is both a science and an art, and the custom of reducing patients to a uniform level and of regarding them simply as units of a group is not to be commended.-[British Medical Journal. Wholesale Houses and Their Customers. - A large wholesale house puts the case in this way against druggists: Every wholesale druggist has difficulties in his experience in obtaining orders from druggists. The following is a statement gathered from various wholesalers, more particularly from orders sent in from country merchants. The Druggist is Most to Blame for delay, for unbusinesslike ways, or, as the court would put it, contributory negligence. Many druggists, unfortunately, have no acquaintance with business methods. Among the different letters and post cards received, you find carelessly written, illegible orders. Instead of giving themselves plenty of room and paper, communications are made on postals that are partly filled with pictures and advertisements that are supplied to the druggist, in a cramped and unintelligible hand. Such orders naturally have to take a pigeon hole or back seat, until the order clerk has time to decipher or request a more straight-forward statement. Frequent causes of delay is a habit of druggists buying from hand to mouth. They do not keep any stock of patents if they can help it, and order what they want in 1-6 or 1-12 of a dozen. It takes up as much time for a wholesale house to enter 1-6 or 1-12 dozen as it does for a dozen or a gross. If Druggists Would Understand That Hundreds of Orders have to be executed on the same day, and as quickly as possible, they would know the necessity of writing plain and giving as large a quantity as their stock would require. Another though not so frequent cause of delay is the indefinite manner of ordering. The wholesaler's customer says to him: "Send me a box of ointment same as last, a bottle of disinfectant same as sent me last month." To find out what was required many hundreds of orders would have to be searched and looked up, unless such were kept in books by themselves, and even then it would be unbusinesslike and indefinite, as a mistake could be easily made, as the druggist might have had similar orders that he had already forgotten. Another Too Prevalent Custom is that of including or asking advice on matters not pertaining to the order in question. The order should be written on a separate piece of paper, with your letter head, duly signed, how it should be shipped, by what line or boat. Do not ask upon the order any questions as regards account or respecting quotations of prices. These are matters that affect different departments of wholesale houses, and should be written on a separate piece of paper. A retailer in New York City has his clerk make out orders to his satisfaction so as to practice the clerk in a business way, what is required, thereby assisting the management of the establishment in qualifying his clerk to facilitate their business from day to day. The druggist should not depend upon the wholesale house to keep his stock for him, send him retail quantities and charge him wholesale prices, besides keeping a staff of porters to perambulate and look up goods required, collecting odds and ends, to say nothing of boxing, packing and shipping; all of which requires an invoice, and must be properly checked.-[ The Retail Druggist. Food and Drugs.-Everyone knows that vegetables, fruits and groceries vary greatly in quality. But not all are aware that drugs vary still more in quality, and while the lapse of the grocer from the highest standard is easily detected, the lapse of the druggist is apt to pass unchallenged. Inert and worthless drugs nullify the skill of the ablest physician, and the cheat is almost impossible of detection. A great wholesale druggist said recently: "In our trade only about 30 per cent of the druggists buy the best drugs of their kind, but about 70 per cent of physicians buy the best that can be had." If you know a good, honest druggist, you'll be safer in patronizing him than the cut-price fellow. Take just as little medicine as possible, but when you take it, get the best there is.-[Healthy Home. Comments: The above item appears in the January issue of the very popular Medical Brief. We do not believe that the statement made by the "great wholesale druggist" is correct; and it is a very serious reflection on the retail druggists of this country. If only 30 per cent of the jobber's customers buy "the best drugs," it is his fault as much as that of his customers. Or, more correctly speaking, it is his fault altogether. Why does this wholesaler keep inferior goods? If he did not have them his customers would not buy them. He is doubtless one of that kind who wants to undersell his competitors. Our experience is, that nearly all the druggists like to buy the best and the purest goods; but they also like to buy their goods as cheap as possible. As most of the goods are now bought through traveling salesmen, who doubtless all claim that their goods are absolutely reliable, the retail druggist takes the goods from the man who sells the cheapest-unless he has no confidence in the house. The salesman from the dishonorable concern may have much greater persuasive power than the one from an honorable house-and thus he manages to sell inferior goods. Many articles in the drug line are not easily judged as to quality, and hence it is simply a matter of confidence. This is again a strong argument in favor of Congress enacting a pure food law for the whole country. A London music school has 3,600 pupils. |