NECROLOGY.

Dr. W. A. Floto, of Lockwood, Mo., died January 24. He was much interested in professional work, and a close student. He had many friends, who join in extending sincere sympathy to the bereaved family.

Robert Gaunt, who graduated at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy with honors, in the Spring of 1899, died at Vienna, Ill., last month, as the result of a severe attack of Mr. Gaunt was typhoid fever.

ROBERT GAUNT.

in the employ of W. C. Simpson, President of the Illinois Board of Pharmacy. He refers to him as a splendid young business man. His classmate and intimate friend, S. Jackson Brown, in writing to us, says: "Rob was liked by most everybody, and quite a few of the citizens escorted the remains to Grand Chain to be interred. Gaunt was registered by examination in Illinois last May. We went up to Springfield together. We had planned to visit St. Louis next April, for the commencement exercises, but when taken sick he said to me that he would not go to St. Louis, as he would never recover from his present illness." Mr. Gaunt leaves a wife and two children, who have the sincere sympathy of his classmates and many friends.

Wm. E. Bard, Sr., died at his home in Sedalia, February 14. He had been in poor health for some years.

Mr. Bard was born in Pennsylvania, in 1840. In 1859, Mr. Bard engaged in the drug business at Georgetown. A year later he came to Sedalia and opened a drug store where Hinsdale & Menefee's barn now stands, the firm being W. E. Bard & Co. Later, Mr. Bard entered into a co-partnership with Dr. R. T. Miller, and for twenty years the firm was Bard & Miller. Subsequently it became W. E. Bard & Son.

Mr. Bard had been a Mason for the past thirty-four years, and treasurer of his local lodge. He was a

prominent member of the Republican party, but refused to accept office. He was a deacon in the First Christian Church of Sedalia.

At a meeting of the Sedalia Retail Druggists' Association, held February 16, the following resolutions on the death of W. E. Bard, Sr., were adopted:

WHEREAS, It has pleased God in His providence to remove from our midst our co-worker and fellow-member, William E. Bard; therefore, be it

Resolved, That in the death of W. E. Bard we have lost one of our sincerest friends and fellow-workers; that his devotion to the best interests of his profession and his dislike for questionable business methods has set us an example which we would do well to follow. We are glad to testify to the value of a life which has impressed itself on his professional brethren, his fellow-citizens and the Christian community of the city in which he has resided during the past thirty-six years.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be published in the daily papers.-[Aug. T. Fleischmann, Mertz & Hale, A. S. McGowan, Thos. J. Fletcher, Otis Smith, Phil. E. Ott, ServantHarker Drug Co., J. L. Kautzman, Dow & Myers.

PURE FOOD AND DRUG LAW.

Senate Bill No. 2426 was introduced January 15, read twice and referred to the committee on Manufactures. Any of our readers can obtain a copy by addressing the Hon. Wm. E. Mason, Washington, D.

C., who introduced the bill.

Under date of February 1, Mr. A. E. Ebert, member of the A. Ph. A. special committee on National Legislation, wrote Senator Mason as follows:

Dear Senator:-I am much interested in your pure food and drug bill, and so are the members of the American Pharmaceutical Association. After looking over the bill carefully, I find three slight changes which I think ought to be made in order to conform the details of the bill to the general theory of it, so far as it relates to drugs. This theory is (and it is one which I heartily approve) that the term "drugs" should include only those recognized in the United States Pharmacopoeia or in the National Formulary. I have always considered that such a provision would have a tendency to raise the general standard of the drug trade; and this I take to be one of the objects of the bill.

Under these circumstances, the word "drug," in line twentyfive on page six, and the like word in line eleven on page eight, should be eliminated. So far as I can see, the insertion of this word at these two points involves a departure from the theory of the bill and would make the law difficult of construction. The proviso (at the foot of page six) is a part of that portion of the bill relating exclusively to foods, and apparently the word “ drug has gotten in at this point by accident. The only effect of it in this place would be to raise a doubt as to whether the definition of" drug" in Section 5 was intended to mean what it says.

"

The same argument applies to the word "drug" in Section 7 on page eight; for, if a blended "drug product" is recognized in the Pharmacopoeia or the National Formulary, surely the Secretary of Agriculture is not expected to prescribe how it shall be branded; and if it is not so recognized, it is (and ought to be) outside the scope of the bill. This Section is closely associated with other provisions relating exclusively to food products, and I cannot believe that it was intended to extend this section to drugs. Otherwise, every bottle of medicine in the country might have to be branded under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture.

For a somewhat similar reason, I think the word "cosmetics" in Section 5 should be omitted. There is no demand whatever from the Pharmaceutical Societies or from those who are seeking to secure the highest standard for drugs, to have cosmetics mixed up in the business. The question of pure food and drugs is a great and an important one; but the regulation of face powder, which the ladies use, is hardly an important enough matter to be mixed up with the subject of food and drugs. It is a letting down of the standard to call a cosmetic a drug within the meaning of this act. If the United States Government is going into the business of regulating face powder, then surely it ought not to overlook hair oil, and I trust you will agree with me that neither of them ought to be in this bill. With kindest regards and best wishes, I am, yours truly, ALBERT E. EBERT.

The letter was referred to Mr. H. W. Wiley, chief of the Division of Chemistry of the Department of Agriculture, who answered as follows:

Dear Sir.-Senator Mason has referred to me your letter of February 1, suggesting certain amendments to the Mason Bill, S., No. 2426.

I have written Senator Mason that I think the suggestions you make are just and that the changes in the bill in conformity therewith will be advantageous. I enclose you a copy of the bill amended in accordance with your suggestions, which I hope will meet with your entire approval.

We are glad to have these suggestions made from friends of the measure, for you can easily see that it is impossible for any one committee, or even two or three committees, to put everything in a bill that should go in, and leave out everything that should be

left out.

We shall be glad if your association will urge the members of Congress, and especially the members of the committees having charge of these bills, the passage of the Brosius Bill, H. R., No. 6246, and the Mason Bill, S., No. 2426.

I sincerely hope that you will be able to attend the congress called for the promotion of these bills, in Washington, on March 7. Very truly yours,

H. W. WILEY.

EDITOR'S TABLE.

Any book reviewed in this Department may be obtained upon receipt of price at the office of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST. An Elementary Laboratory Guide for Students in Materia Medica and Pharmacy.—By Pierre A. Fish, D. Sc., D. V. M., Assistant Professor of Comparative Physiology and Pharmacology, New York State Veterinary College, Cornell University. Published by the author, Ithica, New York, 1900. Price, 75

cents

This volume is intended for use among the author's students. It is, no doubt, useful for this purpose. We commend the thoughtful and systematic manner in which Dr. Fish endeavors to interest first-year students of veterinary medicine in a subject which becomes practical only after reaching clinical medicine.

A Guide to the Study of Pharmacognosy, or the Essentials of Materia Medica of the Vegetable and Animal Kingdom, for the use of Junior and Senior Students in the Buffalo College of Pharmacy. Compiled by John R. Gray, M. D., Ph. G., Professor of Pharmacognosy, Buffalo College of Pharmacy, Department of P harmacy, University of Buffalo. Buffalo: Peter Paul Book Co., Printers, 1894.

to

The author wrote this book for the laudable purpose of giving his students a text-book adapted to his plan of instructions. It, however, has much recommend it to the general student. It is a very practical work, as the author recognizes the wants of the student and gives him essentials without a mass of confusing collateral matter. At the same time quiz book style is avoided.

We hope Dr. Gray will revise the work and publish new edition, with a view of its more general adoption by teachers and students.

a

The Antiquities of Tennessee and the Adjacent States, and the State of Aboriginal Society in the Scale of Civilization Represented by Them.-A Series of Historical and Ethnological Studies. Illustrated with twenty-one full page photo-type plates and 252 wood cuts of Pottery, Idols, Pipes, Flints, etc. Second edition, with new chapters, illustrations and notes. By Gates P. Thurston, vice-president of the Tennessee Historical Society. Royal 8vo. Cloth, net, $4.00. The pharmacist is in a position to collect antiquities and study ethnology. We find that many druggists are interested in Indian relics of the flint and stone class. Among the Western members of the profession are found quite a number who handle more modern Indian curios in every-day trade.

All of these classes of students of history will find much of interest and instruction in the book before It can be ordered from the author, Gen. G. P. Thurston, of Memphis, who will also send sample pages on request.

us.

The illustrations are fine, and the descriptions are very explicit. The author is a true student and enthusiast, whose only interest in the book is to disseminate knowledge on the subject treated. The text is elaborated from papers read before historical societies.

A Manual of Organic Materia Medica and Pharmacognosy.-An introduction to the study of the Vegetable Kingdom and the Vegetable and Animal Drugs. Comprising the Botanical and

Physical Characteristics, Source, Constituents, Pharmacopoeial Preparations, Insects Injurious to Drugs, and Pharmacal Botany. By Lucius E Sayre, B. S., Ph. M., Dean of the School of Pharmacy; Professor of Materia Medica and Pharmacy in the University of Kansas; member of the Committee on Revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia. Second edition revised, with Histology and Microtechnique, by Wm. C. Stevens, Professor of Botany in the University of Kansas. With 374 illustrations, the majority of which are from original drawings. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son & Co., 1012 Walnut Street, 1899. Price, $4.50.

Previous editions of this text and reference book have been noticed in these columns. We have not as yet found time to carefully note all the changes in the issue before us. Our attention, however, has been especially attracted by the new chapter on Histology and Microtechnique. This portion of the volume is by Wm. C. Stevens, Professor of Botany in the University of Kansas. It consists of over 170 pages of text and plates, or about one-fourth of the volume. We suggest that the chapter would form a convenient and useful volume if published by itself. It is applicable in places where the entire book would be unnecessary, expensive and cumbersome.

Any one who has had much experience in microscopical work will decide, before reading far in this chapter, that the author is a practical and observing worker. He realizes the little difficulties experienced by the student, and forewarns him against mistakes which are likely to occur.

The pages devoted to the selection and use of apparatus is very explicit and well illustrated, mostly with cuts from apparatus made by the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company. A few original drawings are introduced. Among those particularly useful are the ones showing the different methods of sectioning roots, stems and rhizomes. We fully agree with the author in his statement that the microtome is preferable to free-hand cutting, even when working with fresh material.

The only suggestion we have to make is that the future editions should give more attention to the finishing of mounts for use as permanent preparations. By use of the turn-table and a good cement, mounts can be quickly sealed so that they will last as long as the glass on which they are mounted.

Non-Poisonous Phosphorus Matches.-According to Courtois-Suffit, the dangers attending the manufacture of phosphorus matches may be entirely obviated by using phosphorus sequisulphide, which is non-toxic, instead of poisonous white phosphorus. The formula for the paste for the match heads is: Phosphorus sequisulphide, 6; potassium chlorate, 24; zinc white, 6; red ochre, 6; powdered glass, 6; glue, 18; water, 34.-[Rev. Pharm., 7, 67.

Fluid Extract of Rhamnus Frangula.-Aweng recommends the following method of procedure for the preparation of this extract, and claims that it removes the active principles of the bark, but not the bitter nauseous glucoside: The powdered bark is heated with water on a water-bath for one hour to destroy the ferment present; it is then allowed to stand for twelve hours to deposit any secondary glucoside which may have dissolved, and finally percolated with cold water. The percolate, after the addition of glycerin, is evaporated to a fluid extract on the waterbath. Another method is to extract the bark by percolation with 60 per cent alcohol, distilling off the solvent, evaporating the residue to an extract, redissolving it in water, filtering, adding glycerin to the filtrate, and evaporating to a fluid extract. -[Pharm. Cent., 39, 778.

Cascara Sagrada, Fluid Extract Of.—Wm. Bichy, of Germantown, Pa., contributes the following to the American Journal of Pharmacy :

"After having tried all published formulas for the extract of cascara sagrada that came under my observation, and finding them deficient in preservative properties, that is, the extracts all precipitated heavily after a few weeks, I endeavored to find a more suitable menstruum for the drug, and believe I have succeeded. With this note you will find a specimen of the fluid extract remaining clear after six months' standing, and prepared by the following process:

NEW REMEDIES.

Cognac de Perou.-By dissolving 50 Gm. of balsam Peru in a litre of cognac, Schmey (Deutsche med. Zeit.) obtains what he terms "Cognac de Perou," with which he claims to have cured cases of advanced tuberculosis. It is administered in teaspoonful doses every two hours, either alone or in milk. A little food such as egg or milk should be taken immediately before the dose. It is stated that the cinnamic acid contained in the balsam acts as well when given in this way as when injected hypodermically. The favorable influence of cognac alone (in medicinal doses) in cases of tuberculosis has been previously pointed by Dettweiler and others.-[L' Union Pharm., 40, 448.

Induline-(L) Montreal.-Induline is a coloring matter, derived from aniline. Induline 3B is prepared by heating a mixture of aniline, aniline chloride and diazo-amido-benzine. Azophenine is the principal body formed, but, by heating to 125-130°, the azophnine disappears, and, after standing for some time, the formation of induline 3B is complete. Its salts dye wool and silk a light blue. Induline 6B is prepared by heating the reaction mixture to 165-170°. Various indulines may be prepared from violaniline with aniline and acetic acid. For further information look up Roscoe & Schlorlemmer's "Chemistry."

Sphagnol.-Is an empyreumatic product obtained by destructive distillation of turf or peat. It is a mixture of anthracene, phenol, cresol and cresylol.

Arsenic Caseinate.-A patent has been taken out for the preparation of a combination of arsenic and casein, by heating casein in aqueous or alcoholic solution with an arsenic haloid. The arsenic caseinate obtained dissolves easily in water, and in weak alkaline solutions, from which it is reprecipitated by acids.-[Pharm. Cent. 40, 575.

STRAY ITEMS.

Mr. W. W. Dutton, of Newport, has bought out the City Drug Store at that place, and will consolidate the stocks, reducing the number of stores if not the amount of drugs.

W. H. Halliburton has resigned his position with the Lincoln Drug Co. and accepted one with the W. S. Merrell Chemical Co., as their Arkansas representative. William is a hustler, and we wish him much

success.

Mr. Louis Keebler, one of the best-known pharmacists of Butte, Mont., died of pneumonia, Febru

Among the many readers of the Journal some may have had the same trouble with cascara, which may be avoided by using the above menstruum."

he was born about fifty years ago. He has been in Butte for the past eleven years and became known as one of the most competent druggists in that section of the State. He leaves a wife and two small daughters, who, at the time of his death, were visiting his mother in St. Louis.

INCIDENTS FROM REAL LIFE.

By What Two methods may cells increase in number? A medical student says: "Butting and

Ficial."

Board Examination Answers.-The law of conversation of energy is

Symbols are used to abbreviate atoms.

Metals are formed by base-forming elements, and non-metals are formed by acid-forming elements. A property of a base is its pleasant taste. A moving car is called kinetic energy.

Acids are called H acids when they contain no O, and O acids when they contain no H.

The meter is the meridional circumference of the earth.

Energy is the nerve power which wills a person to do anything.

store.

existed

George F. Barth as a Drug Clerk.-I served in the Mexican war, returning to Pittsburg in 1848, where I found a situation in a drug Much superstition among the older people. One old man called for twenty-five cents' worth of powdered human skull for the cure of headache. I endeavored to convince him that we did not handle it, when the proprietor overheard my conversation and told the customer that I was a new clerk and not acquainted with this valuable drug. The customer went away with a powder that answered his purpose.

GEORGE F. BARTH.

The drug store was headquarters during the evening for policemen. Every hour they would step out, announce the hour and the condition of the weather. As an example: "It's II o'clock, and cloudy weather!" It was no pleasure for me to sit up so late to accommodate the police, but I could not help it.

From Pittsburg I went to Gallipolis, Ohio, and soon had a situation. The first day I found my employer busily engaged cutting out a pair of trousers. He explained to me that he was a tailor before he became a pharmacist and occasionally cut out a suit of clothes for a customer just to accommodate him, somewhat on the plan that we now sell postage stamps, keep a directory and furnish free telephone to cus

tomers.

As a German pharmacist I thought I understood my profession, so protested when the proprietor took me to the laboratory (cellar) and asked me to make putty. He explained to me that it was the American way of doing business and I consented to follow instructions. I also made blue mass. blue ointment and, in the winter, tallow candles.

My salary for all of this was $15 per month, with board and washing.

From Ohio, in 1852, I went to Charleston, Va. (now West Va.). Coming from a free State I was looked upon as an abolitionist. A merchant next door to the store proved that I was one by pointing me out in the act of sweeping the store. He said that only white trash would do such work. The proprietor's slave got mad at me when he found me sweeping.

Some of the Peculiar Things London People Want.-Curiously worded advertisements, which are funny without intent, are common in London papers, it would seem. An English periodical offered a prize the other day for the best collection of such announcements and the following is the result:

"Annual Sale Now on. Don't go elsewhere to be cheated-come in here." "A lady wants to sell her piano, as she is going abroad in a strong iron frame." "Wanted-Experienced nurse for bottled baby." "Furnished apartments suitable for gentlemen with folding doors."

"Wanted-A room by two gentlemen about thirty feet long and twenty feet broad." "Lost, a collie dog by a man on Saturday answering to Jim with a brass collar around his neck and a muzzle."

"Wanted By a respectable girl, passage to New York; willing to take care of children and a good sailor." "Respectable widow wants washing for Tuesday." "For sale, a piano-forte, the property of a musician with carved legs." "Mr. Brown, furrier, begs to announce that he will make up gowns, capes, etc., for ladies out of their skin."

"A Boy Wanted who can open oysters with a reference." "Bull dog for sale; will eat anything; very fond of children."

"Wanted-An organist, and a boy to blow the same." "Wanted-A boy to be partly outside and partly behind the counter."

"Wanted-For the summer, a cottage for a small family with good drainage."

"Lost-Near Highgate archway, an umbrella belonging to a gentleman with a bent rib and a bone handle." "Widow in comfortable circumstances, wishes to marry two sons."

"Wanted-Good boys for punching." "To be dissolved of, a mail phaeton, the property of a gentleman with a movable headpiece as good as new."

And this last a copy of an inscription painted on a board which adorned a fence in Kent. "Notis: If any man's or woman's cows get into these here otes, his or her tail will be cut off, as the case may be."

A Scientific Version. Scintillate, scintillate, globule vivific, Wonderingly contemplated by men scientific; Elevated and poised in the ether capacious, Resembling a coruscant gem carbonaceous. -[Chemist and Druggist.

The Pennsylvania Hospital, the first establishment in America devoted to the relief of the sick, was chartered by the Assembly of Pennsylvania at the solicitation of Benjamin Franklin and others, in 1751.

PRESCRIPTION CASE DEPARTMENT.

BY PROF. J. M. GOOD, PH. G., HON. M. D., DEAN ST. LOUIS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY.

Correspondence for this department is solicited. Unguentum Benzoini Compound.-"S. H.," Belfast, Ireland, asks for a formula for compound ointment of benzoin. Perhaps some of our readers can furnish it. If it has any properties other than those of a balsam to preserve the fatty vehicle from rancidity, they must lie in the ingredients which go to make up the compound.

Fowler's Solution with Tincture of Ferric Chloride.—"H," of Bentonville, Ark., writes: "What will be the action and the results in the following mixture?"

Upon mixing the above, quite an active effervescence follows. This is caused by the action of the free hydrochloric acid, in the tincture, upon the undecomposed potassium carbonate in the Fowler's solution. The potassium chloride formed dissolves in the liquid. The mixture remains clear and has a deeper color than the original tincture of iron. "H" fails to mention his experience with the mixture.

Oil of Almond, Essential.-"Inquirer" writes: "Kindly let me know the cause of the formation of crystals in the essential oil of bitter almond. My sample is two years old; it has been kept in a glassstoppered bottle." Time is an important factor in the change. The oil obtained by distillation from the bitter almond cake, cherry-laurel leaves, etc., consists largely of benzoic aldehyd (C,H,COH). By oxidation the aldehyd is changed to benzoic acid (C&H5COOH). The acid appears in the liquid in the crystalline form noticed by "Inquirer." As it is the result of a change in the oil, the phenomenon is peculiar to old samples. The synthetic oil has a definite, chemical composition. It is the variety now most abundant in commerce.

Saline Ingredients in Pills.—"C. M. S.," St. Louis, says: "How would you compound the enclosed prescription?

Powdered soap..

Powdered tragacanth.. Powdered elm bark.

gr. x.

.gr. x. q. s.

and dispense in forty-eight capsules, directing two capsules to be taken at a dose.

The addition of these ingredients does not form a tenacious mass, but it is sufficiently adhesive to be filled into capsules. The physician's consent to the additions is desirable, notwithstanding the fact that they are harmless.

Metric Equivalents.-"Subscriber" sends us a copy of an order in which the quantities are expressed in terms of the French (or decimal) system and asks to have it explained. We give it, with equivalents in avoirdupois weight, in parallel col

370 gr.

Gilding size, o. 12 kilo equals 120 grammes, equal 4 ozs.....100 gr. Nigrosine, 0.15 kilo equals 150 grammes, equal 5 ozs.......127 gr. Glycerin, 0.7 kilo equals 700 grammes, equal 1 lb. 8 ozs....303 gr. Stearin-olein, o. 1 kilo equals 100 grammes, equal 3 ozs.. .230 gr. Pear oil, 24 grammes equal 24 grammes, equal... Salicylic acid, 5 grammes equal 5 grammes, equal......... 77 gr. In this statement the kilogrammes are first converted into grammes by multiplying by 1,000. This, as in arabic notation, is accomplished by moving the decimal point three places to the right. In practice, small quantities should be expressed in grammes, not in the decimal part of a kilogramme. The conversion of weights from one system to another is necessary or desirable only for the purpose of comparison. Presuming that such an order would be presented only where the metric system is in common use, the merchant, with the actual weights at hand, would find filling it a very simple matter. A formidable array of figures showing metric equivalents carried out to several places of decimals will discourage any one but a mathematician. It is mainly because the system has been approached from this point of view that its introduction into England and the United States has been so persistently discouraged.

Make Ready for spring trade.