IRELAND DEPARTMENT. BY S. H., BELFAST. Below is a copy of the written part of our pharmaceutical license examination here in Ireland, held in January. It may interest you to contrast with the examining bodies in your country. That we may get fair play in the matter, it is as well for me to say that the viva voce part of our examination, not represented here, of course, is the most testing, and unless you had a sample of it from some of the candidates, you could form no just criterion of the comparative stringency of our examina. tions with yours. E. g., the pharmacy paper enclosed, is very meagre, as you see, and as this is the most important subject, you can have no idea about our practical work in dispensing and the viva voce. Examination Papers of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. -Examination for license, January, 1900. Materia Medica-1. State how gallic and tannic acids are prepared. State how they may be distinguished. Colocynthidis pulpa, Conium [sic] folia, Euonymi cortex. Botany-5. The seed-lobes of a bean consist chiefly of starch, State what changes take place during the process of germination. Describe fully the cause and effect of the changes. 6. Give an account of the structure and function of a leaf. Enumerate some of the commoner forms, and state how you would distinguish between simple and compound leaves. 7. Describe the different kinds of fruits met with in the N. O. Rosacea, giving an example of each. General and Pharmaceutical Chemistry-Time: Two and a half hours. Six questions only need be answered.-1. Calculate from the following data the density of a powder which is not acted upon by oil of turpentine: Weight of empty 100-Cc. flask.. ..... 56.2 grammes. ..142.6 grammes. Turpentine was now added until the flask was filled to the mark. The total weight was...... .246.3 grammes. 2. Describe, with equations, the reactions which take place when solutions of the following substances are mixed. Name the compounds formed: (a) Potassium iodide and copper sulphate. 3. Describe, as well as you can, the chemical changes which take place when white of egg is acted upon by pepsin. 4. Give three methods by which dydrocyanic acid may be made. How may it be prepared in the anhydrous state? 5. How would you proceed to test a sample of sodium soap for presence of unsaponified oil or fat alkaline hydroxide, alkaline carbonate, and potassium soap? 6. What do you understand by the terms strong acid and weak acid, concentrated acid and dilute acid? 7. What is the action of heat on silver cyanide, potassium ferrocyanide, manganese dioxide, ammonium sulphate? 8. What is meant by the phrase "asymmetric carbon atom?" Write the formulæ of two pairs of stereochemical isomers, showing the different position of groups, as well as you can, on a plane surface, and indicating the asymmetric carbon atoms. Practical Chemistry-Time: One hour and a half. 1. Determine what the substances A and B are. 2. You are given a decinormal solution of silver nitrate, and a solution of common salt. Prepare from the latter a fifth-normal solution, and verify its strength. Practical Pharmacy-1. Write out the formula and directions for preparing the B. P. confections. 2. Enumerate the preparations containing liquorice, giving the dose for each. Write the formula for two liquid preparations into which it enters. 3. State fully the B. P. directions for preparingGlycer. plumb. subacet. Tr. kino. Ung. sulphur. iodid. Syr. pruni virg. Lotio hydr. nigr. 4. How are the ointments containing alkaloids made? Name them, and give their strengths. 5. State briefly the provisions of the Poisons Act. Two Important Internal Revenue Rulings.-The Midland Druggist says: "The United States Internal Revenue Bureau gave, during January, two important decisions affecting physicians and druggists. The first, that a physician who prescribes and sells to his patients whiskey, brandy, wine or any other alcoholic liquor that is not compounded into a medicine by the admixture of any drug or medical ingredient therewith, is required to pay special tax as a retail liquor dealer ($25.00 per year), even though the alcoholic liquor thus furnished be prescribed as a medicine only, and so used. The second applies to druggists, and in effect is: That every malt extract, composed of malt liquors combined with drugs, may be sold by druggists by the bottle under labels specifying the diseases for which it is a remedy, without rendering the druggist liable as a retail dealer in malt liquors, if they sell it in good faith for medicinal use only." How Cinnamon Is "Faked."-The Chemist and Druggist says: "An interesting article on the methods of 'faking' cinnamon, plumbago and other Ceylon products is published in a recent issue of the Overland Times, of Ceylon. It appears that one Matthes Appoo is the genius who presides over the "business," and very cleverly he manipulates it. The adulterant which he uses for cinnamon is guava, or jungle-bark, which costs about 6d. per pound in Colombo. This bark is carefully peeled, prepared and dried as cinnamon, and closely resembles it in appearance. The sweet odor and the still sweeter taste peculiar to cinnamon are managed in a few hours by immersion in large tubs of the waste-water from the distillation of cinnamon oil, and afterwards, when dry, by the slightest touch on each end of a bundle of the false guava pipes with a cloth saturated with cheap cinnamon oil. N. A. R. D. The Cleveland (0.) Pharmaceutical Association keeps up its energetic work. The Vermont Pharmaceutical Association has paid its assessment upon 143 members and contributed $10, in addition, to the N. A. R. D. National Treasurer Heller has received the 1900 dues of the Waverly (N. Y.), Sayre and Athens (Pa.), and the Hancock County (Ind.) associations. Local Organizations.—A constitution and set of by-laws for the use of local associations have been approved by the executive committee. Copies may be obtained of the national secretary, 153 LaSalle Street, Chicago. F. A. Stuart Company, of Marshall, Mich. (manufacturers of Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets, etc.), have reduced their prices to $2, $4 and $8, and are conforming in all ways to the requirements of the N. A. R. D. plans. Its The Kenton County (Ky.) Pharmaceutical Association is now affiliated with the N. A. R. D. officers are: F. W. Dlesi, president; Thos. Ferris Bolt, secretary; K. G. Zwick, corresponding secretary, and W. G. Schickler, treasurer. Honest, Open Criticisms Invited.-Although the work of the N. A. R. D. is coming to be recognized universally, even in those places where trade conditions are the worst, there are found in some communities druggists who, for selfish reasons, oppose its efforts at amelioration, and endeavor by sneers and innuendoes to prevent the success it might otherwise attain. Frank, open criticism of the N. A. R. D. is a help rather than a hindrance to its work; the real foes of the cause, if it has any, are those who sneer and cavil, but who say nothing that is worthy of the serious consideration of unselfish open-hearted men. Substantial Support.-During the last fortnight, Treasurer Heller has received the following donations: From the Walther-Robertson Drug Co., Pittsburgh, $50; from the Head of the Lakes Retail Druggists' Association (Pabst offer), $1.52; from A. F. Scheldrup, Stoughton, Wis., $1. During the time named the dues of the following associations have been paid in whole or in part: Kenton County (Ky.) Association; St. Louis Apothecaries' Association; Richland County (O.) Association; Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Association; Madison (Wis.) Association; Head of the Lakes (Minn.) Association; Rockford (Ill.) Association; Manhattan (New York City) Association. "Toronto, Canada, February 12, 1900.-Mr. Thos. V. Wooten, secretary N. A. R. D.: Dear Sir-At the semi-annual meeting of the council of the Ontario College of Pharmacy, just concluded, a resolution was passed, 'that two delegates of the council be sent to the next meeting or convention of the N. A. R. D.' The delegates appointed were J. F. Roberts and myself. My object is for the council to secure all the information possible and to have such an enthusiastic report from the delegates that the council will advise an immediate organization and take the initiative themselves as leaders in the various electoral districts into which our Province is divided, and thereby establish the association much more firmly than we can otherwise do. I am an enthusiastic believer in some such plan as you are working. When and where do you propose to hold your next convention? Thanking you for the papers and information supplied me, I am, yours very truly, JOHN HARGREAVES. * * Afraid of Fifty Cents.-To the secretary of a local association who writes that he fears some of his members are going to "kick" when the matter of annual dues is brought up, an officer of the N. A. R. D. has written as follows: "I think you will have but little difficulty in collecting the dues of your membership, because of the moderateness of the assessment and the fact that everything that a welldirected effort can accomplish for the improvement of the condition of the drug trade is being accomplished by our executive committee. It might be well to direct the attention of those of your members who are disposed to be parsimonious to the fact that the N. A. R. D. has already saved them in reduced prices on proprietaries many times the amount of their assessment. One of the most discouraging things the national executive committee has to contend with is the low estimate apparently placed upon its work by some druggists who have not the slightest conception of the sacrifices its members are compelled to make in their efforts to advance the common good. If the plans of the N. A. R. D. fail, it will be because of the indifference of the drug trade to its own welfare, and its disposition to quibble over the expenditure of money in order to carry on its work. There is hardly one of your members who would not willingly give up half a dollar for four cigars, and yet when this money is asked in order to enable a national association to do what it can for promoting the financial welfare of the drug trade, some of them, according to your letter, are likely to evince the disposition of some men who are accustomed to ask their wives, 'What did you do with that quarter I gave you last year?' I have too much confidence in the druggists of to think that they would throw the N. A. R. D. overboard on account of the pittance they have been asked to contribute for its support." Miss Skeen-" Where did you graduate from, Mr. Gill?" Mr. Gill-" From the school of pharmacy." Miss Skeen (with surprise)- "Is it possible? What a strange choice for a young man brought up in the city! but if I remember rightly your grandfather was a farmer, too." You Can Sell your store by advertising in MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST. SALESMEN'S DEPARTMENT. Mr. I. Sloan, representing the Kress & Owen Co., has been spending some time in St. Louis. He is looking after the Missouri territory in a very careful and energetic manner. Members of the medical profession are always pleased to greet him. Mr. P. C. Westmoreland, who travels in Georgia in the interest of the Meyer Brothers Drug Co., met with the loss of his residence through fire, at Greenville, Ga., last month. Mr. Westmoreland had a pleasant home which, fortunately, was insured. Owing to the extreme cold weather, the family suffered much discomfort, but we are pleased to note that all are well at the present writing. R. Burnett Taliaferro first saw the light at Browns ville, Tenn., December 15, 1865, and resided under his father's roof until 1879, when he moved to Hickman, Ky., for the express purpose of learning the retail drug business under his uncle, F. P. Fortune, who at that time conducted a small store; and as Burnett was the only clerk, he had to act in the capacity of porter, errand boy, etc. The first lesson his uncle taught him was economy, and as a result he saved $30 out of his first year's salary of $5 per month, board, washing, etc., being included. The second year his salary was advanced to the magnificent sum of $10, with board, etc., included, out of which he saved $60 during the year. He continued two years longer with his uncle, at the expiration of which time he was released from his engagement that he might accept a place on the road, in Western Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, with J. B. Wilder & Co., of Louisville, Ky., with whom he continued for two years. About this time T. P. Fortune found a good opening at Memphis, and induced Mr. Taliaferro to quit the road and return to Hickman and help him close out his business there. This was soon accomplished, a ready purchaser being found, and B. BURNETT TALIAFERRO. Mr. Taliaferro settled down as a member of the firm of T. P. Fortune & Co., who conducted the Gayosa Pharmacy in Memphis. Not being satisfied with his previous experience in pharmacy, Mr. Taliaferro set to work diligently to further prepare himself by attending a school of pharmacy during the day, and putting in his evenings at the store. As soon as he felt qualified to take charge of the prescription department of the business, he gave this feature his entire attention, and, in fact, continued in this department until 1890, after which time he did the buying and looked after certain details of the business. The firm T. P. Fortune & Co. were at this time enjoying a business of about $18,000 per annum, and in October, 1894, when Mr. Taliaferro sold out his interest to accept a situation with the Meyer Brothers Drug Co., the business of the Gayosa firm had grown to $33,000 per annum. For five years our friend Taliaferro has ably represented the above house, and that he has well served his friends and patrons, as well as his employers, will be duly attested by the drug trade all over the States of Mississippi, Alabama, and throughout Southern Tennessee. C. J. Steward.--It affords us much pleasure to pre sent to our subscribers and friends a likeness of Mr. C. Jack Steward, a popular and hustling representative of the Coca-Cola Co. Mr. Steward was born in Decatur, Ga., in 1873, and spent the earlier years of his life in that quiet little town. For two years after leaving college he was a jolly pedagogue, trying, as he says, to "teach the young shoot how to idea." In 1897 he accepted a position which necessitated his removal to Kansas City, where he remained until April, 1899, when he went with the Coca Cola Co. C. J. STEWARD. Since engaging with that firm, his business has taken him into about fifteen States-from the Lakes to the Gulf-and everywhere the demand for his popular drink is increasing. He is now on his way to Minnesota and Wisconsin, where he will spend most of the season pushing the "Drink of the Age." A friend says: "Give him an order on this trip And take our little 'tip' If you push his drink according to his say, Your fountain trade will grow, 'Tis true-for figures show Coca Cola sales increasing every day." MATRIMONIAL. Parsons-Knight.-Dr. S. C. Parsons, a prominent druggist of Columbus, Ga., was married January 28, to Miss Nora Helen Knight, of Rolla, Ga. The couple are now at home in their new residence in Columbus. The doctor's return with his bride was quite a social event in Columbus, and one of the pleasant occasions of the new year. Perfect Health is that condition of the body when digestion is so perfect that the physiological balance between the destruction and construction that goes on ceaselessly in cell life is daily kept normal.-[E. B. WARMAN. THERAPEUTICS FOR PHARMACISTS. Thirst and Dry Mouth.-Dissolve a teaspoonful of gum arabic in a glassful of water and add two teaspoonfuls of glycerin, then sufficient lemon juice to flavor agreeably.-[Odontologie 2, v., 306. Local Applications of Castor Oil.-Beloll asserts that warm castor oil thoroughly applied to the abdomen is often as effective in the case of a child as if taken internally.-[New York Medical Journal, October 22, 1898. Lunar Caustic with Cocaine. To make the application of silver nitrate in sensitive places less painful, simultaneous use of cocaine nitrate is recommended. The hydrochloride is not suitable for this, as it precipitates silver as chloride.-[Ztsch. f. Ph. Removal of Warts.-Wydal, in the Journal of Medicine, of Paris, suggests a simple remedy for the removal of warts, which consists of some sapo viridis spread upon flannel and applied to the warts for some fourteen days, at the end of which time they become so soft as to be easily shelled out. Lime in the Eyes.-Lime frequently causes great pain in the eyes, yea, it sometimes destroys the sight. A simple remedy, which at once removes the pain, is to wash out the eye with sugar water. The lime in this case enters a chemical combination, which soon takes away its corroding action.-[Monatsh f. Hom. Potassium Chlorate for Burns.-The immediate application of a cold saturated solution of potassium chlorate has an excellent effect on burns, relieving the pain rapidly. Superficial burns may be permanently dressed with a solution of the salt; but deeper wounds should be treated with full antiseptic precautions.-[Semaine Med. Prophylaxis of Chapped Hands. After washing the hands with non-irritating soap, rub in the following lotion and allow it to dry on the hands. It is especially recommended to physicians and surgeons. Alcohol, 80 grams; glycerin, 35 grams; rosewater, 30 grams; salol, 2 grams; tincture of musk, 2 drops. -[Morel-Lavallée in Gaz. Méd. de Liége. Collodion for Corns.-Rundschau states that the action of salicylic acid in salicyl-collodion for corns is considerably increased by the addition of lactic acid, which in itself is an active destructive of unhealthy skin, but is harmless when applied to healthy skin. The formula recommended is salicylic acid and lactic acid, of each ten parts; collodion, eighty parts. Dissolve and mix. Bed Sheet Stretcher.-Dr. Jacobsohn exhibited at a recent meeting of the Verein für innere Medicin, an apparatus for preventing the folding and rumpling of the sheets of bed-ridden patients. The apparatus consists of an iron frame, the foot plank being removable. The side planks are inserted into the hems of the sheet and the foot plank is then adjusted. The sheet can be tightened by screws.—[Deutsche Med. Woch. Mud as a Cure for Insect Bites and Stings. — An Australian journal names this as a new remedy, and describes it under the name of "Earth Cure." Clay mud has long been recognized as a serviceable application for the stings of bees, wasps, etc. The writer has a very grateful remembrance of its soothing effect during his experience as a barefoot boy. We believe that the treatment is still popular in many sections of the United States. The Treatment of Warts.-Louvel-Dulongpre advocates the following painless treatment, which also has the advantage of leaving no cicatrix: A concentrated solution of bichromate of potash in boiling water is prepared by gradually adding to the latter enough of the salt to make a saturated solution. On cooling, a certain quantity of the salt will again crystallize out. The supernatant fluid is to be applied once a day by means of a brush.—[Pediatrics, 5, 279, after Med. Neuigkeiten. The Removal of Moles.-Moles on the face are now being successfully treated by the use of sodium ethylate. The mole is painted with the sodium ethylate, a fine glass rod being used. When the mole has a varnished look, the ethylate is gently rubbed in with the glass rod to make it penetrate more deeply. The mole turns nearly black, and a hard crust forms over it, which is nearly three weeks in becoming detached. When it comes off, the mole is much lighter than before, and this treatment can be continued until the mark is scarcely noticeable.-[Buffalo Medical and Surgical Journal. Degeneracy of the Mammæ.-The latest signs of the degeneracy is that pointed out by Heger, who appeals to young men on behalf of posterity to select women with well-developed breasts for their wives; he quotes statistics to prove inability to nurse a child is a sign of degeneracy, and produces degeneracy. Among other facts, he points out that in a certain district which supplies large numbers of wet nurses to the city, the percentage of men physically incapable of military service amounts to 30 per cent. He also remarks upon the surprising number of deformed nipples encountered in the hospitals. Fehling mentions "hollow nipples" as occurring in 6.7 of his obstetric cases. Heger warns mothers not to allow the clothing to constrict the growing breasts of their daughters, and urges general hygiene as the best method to develop them.-[Journal of Surgery and Gynecology. A Horse's Prayer. Up hill hurry me not, ' The Man who relies on the advertising he did last year soon finds that he likewise has to rely on the sales he made last year. |