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It Is Well to Know All.* By L. G. WOOD,

Columbia, S. C.

Painted on the end of a prescription case in large gilt letters, a great many years ago, the writer saw the cabalistic words, "Omnia noscere salus est." He was a small lad, and to him these words carried no meaning, and appealed to him only as a beautiful specimen of the painter's art. As time went by, however, he learned the translation, and through a varied life he has time and time again been impressed with the application and meaning of that golden sign. I am told that it is not good Latin; this may be true, but I am convinced it is good sense and sound reasoning.

I once knew a first honor graduate, wearing his prize badge and naturally elated by the plaudits of the audience and compliments of his preceptors, mentally dismount when asked, the next day, if putty was made with linseed or cotton seed oil. What availeth a man if he gaineth the first prize and loseth his job? The man, in my opinion, for the times is he who by keeping his eyes and ears open not only learns that didymium and lanthanium are very costly and rare earth metals, but that "Tasteless Syrup of Amorphous Quinine" contains quinidia and no quinine, that our little sleep destroyers, through whose veins runs the best blood of South Carolina, will float in a vial of quicksilver and sing "A Life on the Ocean Wave" for a week, but will to a drop of oil of any kind yield up their life and work; that sawdust will clean a mortar or slab of all adherent grease; that boric acid should be made by the retail druggist; that litharge and glycerin mixed to a putty will fasten your pestle handles for all time; that a solution of zinc sulphate applied to your soda water slab discourages flies; that you should not attempt to decipher the prescription handed in in the presence of the customer; that ad always means up to and not additional; that yellow oxide mercury is an amorphous red oxide; that aldehyd is al (cohol) de (prived of) hyd (rogen); that (this to a proprietor) you owe your clerk some of your time and knowledge as surely as you owe him his salary; that if young he has a girl and she would sometimes like to see him; that colorless iodine is not what it is named, in fact or effect Hamlet without the Ham as it were; that the Board of Pharmacy are not in league against you; that a license from them does not certify that they are not in league against you; that a license from them does not certify that you are omniscient; that the board isn't; that it requires but a quinine bottle, a cork and two small medicine tubes for hydrogen paraphernalia; that fresh bread crumb is the best excipient for creosote pill; that the best method of recovering rancid oil of lemon is to throw it away; that oils of this family can be kept if mixed when fresh with half their volume of alcohol; that Donovan's solution is prone to change, can be remedied by shaking with mercury; that the aq. calcis bottle should always have an excess of lime at the bottom; that a diploma or license is not a certificate of character or business qualification; that the Pharmaceutical Association of South Carolina is an aid to the profession, and

Read at the annual meeting of the South Carolina Pharmaceutical Association.

a membership in its ranks is a recommendation in itself. That the more you know of your business and the various duties appertaining thereto, the more you are worth to your employer. That, imprimis, a diploma from a college of pharmacy is most to be desired, but if you are willing and earnest in the matter you can pass in this State a board whose standard is second to none known to me.

Valuation of Amyl Nitrite and Nitrous Ether.

Carl E. Smith has presented a report from Research Committee D, Section II. of the Committee of Revision of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, giving the results of an examination of commercial samples of amyl nitrite and spirit of nitrous ether, and proposing new methods for their valuation.

The author (Am. Jour. Phar., June, 1898), after reviewing the various methods of valuation in general use proposes the following method for the

Valuation of Spirit of Nitrous Ether.

Into a 100 Cc. flask or bottle of white glass, provided with a loosely-fitting stopper of glass, rubber or cork, place successively 10 Cc. of distilled water, 5 Cc. of a cold, aqueous, saturated solution of potassium chlorate, 5 Cc. of the spirit to be tested, and 5 Cc. of 10 per cent nitric acid. Quickly insert the stopper and shake frequently during thirty minutes. Then add 10 Cc. of decinormal silver nitrate, shake briskly for a moment, add 10 drops of ferric ammonium sulphate solution, and titrate the excess of silver with decinormal potassium sulphocyanate. The titration should be performed without delay, to avoid darkening of the precipitated silver chloride by the influence of light, which interferes with the end-reaction.-The end-point is reached when, after momentary shaking, upon addition of the last drop of solution, the appearing red color is not entirely dispersed, but leaves the liquid faintly reddish throughout. The color will frequently disappear after persistent shaking or after standing a while, but no attention need be paid to this. Assuming the spirit to contain 4 per cent by weight of ethyl nitrite, and to have a specific gravity of 0.84, it would require 2.55 Cc. decinormal potassium sulphocyanate to precipitate the excess of silver in solution. As each cubic centimeter of decinormal silver nitrate consumed in precipitating the chloride formed corresponds to 0.0225 gramme of ethyl nitrite, the calculation is as follows:

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If the specific gravity of the sample is assumed to be 0.84, which is approximately correct in most cases, the calculation can be shortened by simply multiplying the number of cubic centimeters of decinormal silver nitrate required by 0.536. In this case it is 7.45 X 0.536 = 4.0 per cent. This factor can be employed only when 5 Cc. of spirit are taken for assay. If it is desired to avoid calculation entirely, 2.7 Cc. of spirit and half the quantities of the reagents may be taken, in which case each cubic centimeter of decinormal silver nitrate indicates 1 per cent of ethyl nitrite.

Concentrated nitrous ether may be assayed by diluting with alcohol in definite

proportions, or in accordance with the directions on the label, and proceeding as in the assay of spirit of nitrous ether.

Valuation of Amyl Nitrite.

Partially fill a 100 Cc. graduated flask with alcohol, insert the stopper and amyl nitrite to be tested and weigh again. weigh. Add five to six grammes of the Fill the flask to the 100 Cc. mark with alcohol and mix thoroughly by shaking. Then proceed in the same manner as directed for spirit of nitrous ether, using 20 Cc. of distilled water, 10 Cc. of the saturated solution of potassium chlorate, 10 Cc. of the alcoholic dilution of amyl nitrate and 10 Cc. of dilute nitric acid. Also use 20 Cc. of decinormal silver nitrate and titrate the excess as directed above, observing the same precautions. The calculation of results is made as explained by the following example: Assuming the alcoholic dilution to contain 6.037 grammes of the sample in 100 Cc., the 10 Cc. taken for assay contain 0.6037 gramme. If in titrating the excess of silver, 5.45 Cc. of decinormal potassium sulphocyanate are required (20 — 5.45 =) 14.55 Cc. of decinormal silver nitrate, each cubic centimeter equivalent to 0.0351 gramme of amyl nitrite, have been consumed in precipitating the chloride formed in the reaction. The calculation then is

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In the application of this method care must be taken either to use pure reagents or to make allowance for the interfering impurities they may contain, which is easily done. Potassium chlorate and nitric acid, in their commercial forms, nearly always contain chloride, but they can readily be obtained free from it. Ammonium ferric sulphate may also contain chloride in traces. Nitric acid may contain lower oxides of nitrogen, indicated by a yellow color of the acid and brown vapors in the air-space of the container. The correction is most readily made by mixing these reagents in the same quantities as used in the assay and allowing the mixture to stand a while. If, on the addition of a few drops of decinormal silver nitrate, only a slight opalescence appears, no correction is necessary; if the solution becomes decidedly turbid or a precipitate is formed, a known volume of silver nitrate should be added and the excess determined with sulphocyanate. The silver nitrate required to precipitate the chloride is deducted from that required in the actual assay.

To Frost Windows.

The following process has been recommended (Deutch. Maler Zeit.): Dissolve one part of wax in ten parts of turpentine, add one part of shellac and one part of drier Paint the outside of the window pane with this mixture and dab it over it then with a wad of cloth. Any desired pigment may be incorporated.

Water-proof Gelatin Paper.-Prepare a solution of gelatin by dissolving one part of gelatin in a mixture of one part of glycerin and four of water. Coat both sides of the paper with this solution and allow the gelatin to harden. Then dip the paper into a mixture of 750 Cc. of formalin and 5 liters of water. Allow to drain and hang up to dry.

American Ginseng in China.

The following report on "American Ginseng in China" has been received by the Department of State from R. Wildman, United States Consul at Hong Kong:

"I am in receipt of letters from the United States inquiring as to the market for American ginseng in China. I have answered each in brief, quoting a general price per pound, but saying that it would be absolutely necessary for buyers here to see samples before buying. By the last mail I am in receipt of three more inquiries which I trust I may be permitted to answer through the department, and so have what data is procurable here in form for reference.

"The price of ginseng, like the price of deer horn, is governed more by sentiment than by the law of supply and demand. It depends upon the color, the form, the size and its fancied resemblance to the human body.

Two pieces of ginseng, both weighing the same and both of the same color, and taken from the same ground at the same time might vary 100 per cent in price; and yet there is no real reason, to occidental eyes, for the distinction. The preferred variety is thin and has two lateral arms projecting from the stem, just above the body.

"Of course, no such price as $100 an ounce is ever under any circumstances paid for the American growth, although I have seen mandarin ginseng that was worth 135 times its own weight in silver. As a general statement, American ginseng will sell here for $3 to $3.50 (gold) per pound. It would not sell for less, and might, if properly exploited, bring ten times that much. I mean, if it were exhibited in such a way that the Chinese could buy it, piece by piece, as fish or chickens are bought, in the public market, instead of by the quantity.

"All the leading Chinese merchants come to this consulate weekly, and samples of American ginseng could be sent in care of the consulate, spread out on a table, and the Chinese merchants could send orders to America with the samples.

"The market for a good article is practically unlimited. There are 400,000,000 Chinese, and all to some extent use ginseng. If they can once become satisfied with the results obtained from the tea made of the American ginseng, the yearly demand will run up into the millions of dollars' worth. The mandarin, or imperial, ginseng ($50 to $200 an ounce) is beyond the reach of the majority, and the Korean ginseng is used more as a tonic than as a panacea. Hong Kong is a free port, so the only expense of sending ginseng would be freight across the continent and across the Pacific to Hong Kong.

"As to packing, that is a question to be decided on the quality and condition of the article. Of course, the crude root would come in tight boxes or barrels, but the clarified would demand more care. If the exporter wished to test the market in competition with the Manchurian ginseng, I would advise him to pack in cotton, so there could be no possible breakage, or even rubbing of one root against another. In any case, the clarified root (rendered translucent by steaming, skimming and drying) should be packed carefully, so as not to break.

"The little part or nub, where the arms join the stem, is considered of far greater value than the lower section, while the

part above ground is not eaten at all; it is supposed to be injurious. Consequently, if the nub is broken off, two-thirds of the value of the root would be gone. It must be attached to the body. Good ginseng breaks easily.

"Dr. Smith, in his work on Chinese materia medica, says:

"Great care is required to preserve choice specimens from the effects of damp and the attacks of worms, to which they are liable. This drug (ginseng) is prepared as an extract, as a decoction, in silver vessels, as a rule. Its effects are apparently those of an alterative tonic, stimulant, carminative, and demulcent nature. It is prescribed in almost every description of disease of a severe character, with a few exceptions, but with many reservations as to the stage of the disease in which it may be administered with the greatest benefit and safety.'

"The root is never powdered here. The reason is that a Chinaman is justly suspicious of powder. When he pays 50 cents or $100 for an ounce of ginseng or $450 for a deer horn, he wants his money's worth. The powder might be made of any similar root or horn of no value. Ginseng, like wine, increases in value with its age. The best ginseng has been growing for 100 to 200 years. The Korean ginseng is supposed to arrive at perfection after thirty years, although it is used after six years. This is one of the reasons why ginseng is so high priced. I take it for granted that the American ginseng is wild, and so may be of any age, even more than a century old. The age is told by counting the rings on the centre and side roots, or those parts resembling the torso and arms.

"If American farmers of the mountain regions of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado, Wyoming, Georgia, Idaho and North Carolina, where ginseng grows wild, would cultivate on land that had no other productive value, the crop would be a splendid heritage for the second generation, even if the original planter did not realize upon it in his lifetime. There will always be a market for all kinds of good ginseng in China.

"It is absolutely believed in by all Chinese, from the highest to the lowest, and there would be millions of testimonials as to its efficacy and the wonders it has accomplished for any one who desired them. Besides being used in cases of actual sickness, wealthy people make it into a tea and drink it as a purely precautionary measure, as we take quinine. It is prepared by putting a bit of the root and some water in a small covered pot, which is placed in a larger pot full of water. When the water in the larger pot boils, the infusion is ready for use.

"W. M. S. Beede, M. D., the United States consular surgeon at Hong Kong, says:

"While there is a decided difference in appearance between the American and Chinese species of ginseng, it is undetermined whether or not they are identical in action. It is at least certain that the for

mer is only agreeable in taste and perhaps useful as a mild stomachic. The latter enjoys in China the reputation of a panacea, and especially of being aphrodisiac. The affections for whose cure it is most esteemed are such as are usually treated by aromatic stimulants, namely, dyspepsia, vomiting and nervous disorders.'

"Dr. Chung King-u, diplomat, Imperial Medical College of Tienstin, China, and resident surgeon of the Tung Wa Hos

pital at Hong Kong-the only hospital in China which is devoted to Chinese medical practice, but which is under the supervision of a Chinese physician versed in Western medicine-informs me that in hisexperience he has failed to observe any definite results obtained by the use of ginseng. Its use among the Chinese is entirely empirical, and its efficacy depends upon the imagination of the patient.

"The Chinese have no scientific knowledge of either botany or chemistry, and therefore know nothing about the active principles of drugs or the reasons for administering the same. The infusion, in which form it is usually employed, may be given ad libitum.

"There is a patent preparation on the Hong Kong market supplied by Messrs. Watson & Co., the leading druggists, called ginseng bitters, which has quite an extensive sale.

"American ginseng (yeong shane) is imported by Hong Kong and Canton merchants to the extent of thousands of dollars' worth annually.

"One of the oldest and leading chemists of Hong Kong has supplied me the following notes on the relative values of Chinese, American and Korean ginsengs:

"Of the three, not including the Manchurian, Korean ginseng ranks the best. Practically speaking, very little ginseng is produced in China. What is called the native ginseng is grown in the province of Szechuen. It is of an inferior quality to either the American or Korean; but in shape and color it resembles the former, though it is thinner and shorter in size. Their market values are as follows:

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more rapid in its action-i. e., "it will convert a larger amount (of starch) in a given time than will any other amylolytic ferment." 2. That Taka-Diastase seems to be less retarded in its digestive action by the presence of the organic acids (butyric, lactic, acetic), and also by tea, coffee and alcohol than are saliva and the malt extracts. This is an important point in pyrosis. 3. That all mineral acids, hydrochloric, etc., quickly stop and permanently destroy all diastatic action if allowed sufficient time, and if present in sufficient quantities. 4. That Taka-Diastase and malt diastase have, like ptyalin, no action upon cellulose (uncooked starch). All starch food should therefore be cooked to permit of the starch ferment assisting Nature in this function.

PAPERS FOR THE A. PH A.

Queries and Answers.

We shall be glad, in this department, to respond to calls for information bearing on pharmacy or any of its allied topics, and cordially invite our friends to make use of this column.

The name and address of the inquirer must accompany the communication, not for publication, but to assure attention, as we make it a rule to pay no regard to anonymous correspondence.

Capsules of Amyl Nitrite.-E. C.The glass perles are less convenient for emergency cases than the gelatin capsules. Dr. Charles Rice, chemist of the General Drug Department of New York,

Meeting at Baltimore, Md., Aug. 29 gives in his "Hospital Formulary" the fol

to Sept. 12, 1898.

The Committee on Scientific Papers has issued the following circular to members:

Dear Sir: In order that the members of the American Pharmaceutical Assn. may derive the greatest possible benefit from the papers to be presented before the Scientific Section at the Baltimore meeting of the Association, the committee charged with the work of the section desires to make the following announcement:

1. Committees in the past have not always been able to arrange the programmes to their own satisfaction or that of others, largely because many persons who desired to present papers did not send to the committee the necessary information. The committee for 1898, therefore, requests that an abstract of each paper to be read before the section be sent to the chairman on or before August 15th. Inasmuch as an abstract can be prepared even before the paper is in final shape for reading or publication, this request does not seem to involve any hardship or injustice. In arranging the programme, preference will naturally be given to those papers whose authors have complied with this request. 2. Authors of papers are further requested to state on the abstract how much time they will require for a satisfactory presentation of their subject. By adhering strictly to the 10-minute rule, some authors have had time to read their papers twice within the allotted time, whereas others with broad subjects were hampered in their presentation through lack of time, even if the time allotted according to rule by the chairman was graciously extended by the section. In the presentation of papers authors will please bear in mind that a more general presentation of many subjects is of greater value to a mixed scientific audience than a discussion of a host of details, which, though very valuable, may interest only very few.

3. The object of scientific gatherings is not so much to read papers, for they can be read more satisfactorily at home when in print. The principal object of such gatherings is to bring men interested in related lines of work together for expression and exchange of opinions, both formal and informal. It lies within the province of the council to see that sufficient time is left between the sessions to permit the latter. It is the duty of the section committee to see that the former is possible. The committee on the scientific section, therefore, desires to urge persons who have papers to read, whenever possible, to consider their presentation as an introduction to a more general discussion: i. e., to omit unessential details in the oral report, so that greater emphasis may be laid on the outline of the work accomplished, thus evoking, if pos sible, a discussion by others. It will aid the committee greatly if authors will mention on their abstracts the name or names of members of the Association who are sufficiently familiar with their work to participate in a discussion, that they may be notified beforehand that the subject will come up for such discussion.

The committee is fully aware that this cannot apply in all cases, and that all papers cannot be treated alike. It hopes, however, that all members interested in the work of the section will assist the committee in making its sessions as profitable as possible.

I find the DRUGGIST as useful and entertaining as ever.

MISS A. E. CLARK. Kings Ferry, N. Y., June 15, 1898.

lowing directions for preparing the gelatin variety:

troduce a minute pellet of absorbent cotInto a No. 2 empty gelatin capsule inton, and drop upon it one, two or three drops (as may be required) of amyl nitrite from a burette. Put on the cover, having first moistened its inner rim with a little mucilage or melted gelatin. Enclose this capsule in a No. 1, and this in a No. 0 one, sealing each cover in the same manner. It will require a little force to get one capsule to enter the other, but by applying a trace of oil or petrolatum to the smaller, the difficulty will be overcome.

These capsules should be put up in small wide-mouthed bottles, securely stoppered, and will keep serviceable for a long time. For use, one of the triple capsules is cut across the middle with a pair of scissors.

Toxicity of Methyl Orange.-A. L. asks whether it would be safe to use methyl orange or tropaeolin D in coloring confectionery or in cooking when used in the proportion of 1 grain to each pound of mateial.

According to experiments conducted on animals by a German scientist, in which doses as large as 15 grains were administered, the dye causes no marked organic disturbances. Albuminuria was produced, but the animals recovered. The dye is classed by Weyl among the non-poisonous colors of the Monazo group. Unless our correspondent is certain of its composition, we should not advise its use. Weyl's classification (The Coal-Tar Colors, Leffman's translation, P. Blakiston, Son & Co., Philadelphia) of the poisonous and non-poisonous monazo colors is as follows:

Non-poisonous: Bismarck brown, Soudan I, ponceau 4 G B, archil-substitute, chrysoidin, diphenylamine orange, azarin S, m-nitrasotin, p-nitrasotin.

Poisonous: Orange II, metanil yellow. All of the diazo colors have been proved to be non-poisonous.

Artificial Chocolate Syrup.-S. M.We are unable to quote a formula for a factitious chocolate essence, and should hesitate to do so if we could. The true chocolate is cheap enough to afford a reasonable profit, and a pharmacist should be the last person to countenance the sale of a fraudulent imitation.

Saccharine Syrup.-S. M.-Glucose could be used to give "body" to a solu

tion of saccharine; but saccharine fruitsyrups do not keep well, and the use of a solution of this substance as a substitute for simple syrup has invariably proved disappointing.

Microscopical and Chemical Examination of Fibres and Fabrics.-C. M. G. -The estimation of wool in a sample of cloth consisting of wool, silk and cotton, is best done with a solution of the basic chloride of zinc, made by boiling 100 parts fused zinc chloride with 4 parts zine oxide and 85 parts water, until a clear solution results. If the cloth be silk and wool, a weighed piece is immersed in a sufficient quantity of the re-agent, whereupon the silk is dissolved quite rapidly if heated, leaving the wool intact: this is rinsed in water, dried and weighed. If cotton be present in the sample, as shown by examination under the microscope, it will be left with the wool, in which case the residue (after weighing) should be treated with a ten per cent solution of caustic soda to dissolve the wool, leaving the cotton, which is to be washed, dried and weighed. To remove and estimate vegetable fibres in a sample of cloth, treat with three per cent sulphuric acid and dry. The cellulose will be completely destroyed, and can be removed by a little shaking. In strong sulphuric acid cotton is dissolved; wool is but little affected, but silk is at once dissolved. If water is added, the wool can be removed, washed to remove the last trace of acid, and then weighed. A solution of copper oxide in ammonia dissolves cotton and silk, but not wool. The following solvent is very useful for silk, leaving cotton and wool: 16 grammes copper sulphate, 150 Cc. water, 16 grammes glycerin. Treat this mixture with a solution of caustic soda until the precipitate formed is redissolved.

"Dead Stuck" Insecticide.-G. D. M. advises us that "Dead Stuck," the formula of which was asked for by E. L. S. in the preceding number, is a preparation of naphtholeum, with the addition of some red coloring matter. Our obliging correspondent states that the compound is highly inflammable and has been the cause of several accidents. He has failed

in his experiments to find the deposit of powder mentioned by E. L. S.

Cardamoms and Their Pericarps.H. M.-That it was never intended that the pericarps of cardamom should be used in preparations where simply cardamom is specified, is shown in the new British Pharmacopoeia, where cardamomi semina is given as the official title, and the substance is described as the dried ripe seed of Elettaria Cardamomum, Matton. It is recommended also that the seeds be kept in their pericarps, and sepa

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Dissolve the soap in the lavender water, add to the ammonia water, and make up the volume to 1 pint with distilled water.

Vanillin Sugar.-L. F.-The following mode of preparing vanillin sugar is quoted in "Odorographia": Take of vanilla crystals 6 drams, 15 grains, dissolve it

Mix the solution of ferric chloride with the glycerin, dissolve the acid in 1 fluid ounce of water, mix the two solutions, add ammonia water until the liquid is only feebly acid, and lastly, the remainder of the water.

Glycerin in Mist. Rhei et Sodae.H. F.-Glycerin is added to the popular rhubarb and soda mixture for its preservative properties. It also adds to the palatability of the mixture. If you had ever prepared and kept the mixture in large quantities, you would be familiar with the fermentative changes which take place, and render a preservative neces

sary.

Correspondence.

To the Editor:

macy.

in 4 fluid ounces of pure odorless, abso- The First Woman Doctor of Pharlute alcohol; pour this solution upon 2 lbs. 2 ozs. of the finest sugar and mix it thoroughly in order to distribute it as equally as possible. After having evaporated the alcohol in a warm place, and when the sugar has become thoroughly dry, it should be powdered in wedgewood mortar and sifted. It is then ready for use and may be kept an indefinite time without losing aroma. This 2 per cent vanillin sugar should not be confounded with the "vanilla sugar" generally used by confectioners. In order to prepare the latter, it is only necessary to add to pure sugar as much of the 21 per cent vanillin sugar as would otherwise have been taken of the finest vanilla.

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Sir: The AMERICAN DRUGGIST of May 10th contains an interesting account of the commencement exercises of the New York College of Pharmacy, held on April 28th, and gives, in connection with this, a short sketch of one of the graduates, Louisa Tendler, Ph.D., the "first woman doctor in pharmacy."

With due respect to Dr. Tendler and the AMERICAN DRUGGIST, kindly permit me to call your attention to what is doubtless an oversight. On April 14, 1898, the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy graduated six young women, upon two of whom was conferred the degree of doctor in pharmacy. These are Miss Anna C. Ross, of Pennsylvania, and Miss Rose Slobodkin, of Russia. To these two young women belongs the honor of being the first women doctors in pharmacy. The AMERICAN DRUGGIST, always glad to give honor where honor is due, will, I am sure, place the names of Miss Ross and Miss Slobodkin at the head of the list of women doctors in pharmacy. Respectfully yours,

MAE THOMPSON HARDERS,
P. C. P., Class '93.

Philadelphia, June 17.

Flag Raising.

To the Editor:

Sir: I have noted your kindly intended notice on page 327 of your issue of June 10th.

I am sorry you give credit to the company for the patriotic evidence, for the company had absolutely nothing to do with it, but the employees, from the youngest apprentice up, contributed to its purchase, every cent of which (over $150) was met wholly by the 600 employees at this factory.

Probably no flag in the country was paid for by representatives of so many countries and nationalities, and those most recently landed on our shores vied with the native in their enthusiasm.

However, I thank you for your kind intentions, but should be glad if you will give the credit where it belongs in your next issue. Yours truly, AMERICAN SODA FOUNTAIN Co. Wм. S. STONE.

Boston, Mass., June 16, 1898.

Bibliography.

HANDBOOK FOR THE HOSPITAL CORPS OF THE U. S. ARMY AND STATE MILITARY FORCES, by Charles Smart, Deputy Surgeon-General, U. S. A. Approved by the Surgeon-General of the Army. New York, William Wood & Co., 1898. [$2.25 net.]

DRILL REGULATIONS FOR THE HOSPITAL CORPS,
U. S. A. Published by permission of the
A.
Surgeon-General, U. S.
The Pettibone
Bros. Mfg. Co., Cincinnati, O. 1897. [75c.]

In these days of military ardor, many druggists would be interested in learning something more of the duties and responsibilities of the army pharmacist than can be learned from the necessarily brief and discursive newspaper articles. All such druggists will find the desired information in the two books whose titles are given above.

The first of these is general and descriptive in character and embraces primary instructions in anatomy and physiology, first aid to the injured, management of cases of poisoning and infectious diseases and the elements of cookery in addition to the part which treats of the hospitals and of specific hospital duties. A perusal of the work of Deputy Surgeon-General Smart will be of interest to all pharmacists and should be carefully studied by every member of the hospital corps from private to surgeon. The work members of the hospital corps and the is designed for the instruction of the instruction is conveyed clearly and distinctly in non-technical language. The hospital steward or member of the corps who has mastered its contents will un

doubtedly be of vastly increased value to his command in active service, and when information gained from this book is supplemented by a thorough knowledge of the drill regulations of the hospital corps which are laid down in the little handbook published by the Pettibone Bros. Mfg. Co., of Cincinnati, the recruit will have become an efficient member of the sanitary corps.

The drill regulations are laid down in the terse phraseology adopted in army regulations and for the most part require some explanation to be readily comprehensible. To the sanitary soldier, however, a copy of these drill regulations will undoubtedly prove of great value, giving him a method of perfecting himself in drill and extending his knowledge to a degree which cannot be attained in any other manner.

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Business Hints.

PRACTICAL DISCUSSION OF STORE METHODS AND

ADVERTISING.

By Ulysses G. Manning.

The Department Editor will be pleased to criticise any advertisement submitted, and to suggest improvements. Questions answered and advice given.

Mr. Baumann's ad. and one submitted by Mr. H. F. Ruhl, both of which are shown, were favorably considered for the prize. The decision was close and not unanimous. Mr. Ruhl's ad. is a trifle the better of the two. The heading of Mr. Baumann's ad. could be improved. A headline that conveys no definite meaning is never as good as one that does. The ad. is a clean, attractive one, and this style of setting is hard to beat. The new type faces do not differ enough from those

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A Bold and Definite Heading Lacking. The winning ad. is a pretty good one. The original was three columns wide and seven inches deep. It is reproduced in single column form for convenience, the original setting being equally simple. The headline is poor. Blind headings should always be avoided. An effort should have been made to catch the attention of those needing paints. Paints at Portland Prices, or Money Saving Paints, or Paint Economy, would have been better. Many advertisers seem to believe that something is gained by forcing people to read into an ad. to find out what it is about. There is really a loss in doing so. Probably not over one-tenth of the readers of the paper in which this ad. appeared had any need of paint. Practically nothing is gained by getting people who have no use for the commodity offered to read the ad., while owing to the lack of a definite heading many of those who needed paints may have overlooked it. This ad. could easily have had a paint heading in 48 or 60 point type and no one could have gotten away from it. It is usually best to give prices instead of asking people to come in and get them. This rule has exceptions and it may not have been advisable to quote them in this ad. There is little need of withholding them through fear of giving them to competitors. If your rivals want your prices they can easily get them. The man who is fearless in quoting usually wins by it. People invariably feel that the prices are right or they would not have been stated. It often forestalls any attempt to dicker or beat down on the part of the customer.

He realizes that when prices are quoted in public prints they are rock bottom

ones.

The other ads. submitted by Mr. Huntley are pretty good, but do not equal the winning one. The latter contains enough information and enough sound argument. to sell goods, and I am sure it did.

If anyone offers you

Linseed Oil or White Lead at less than the market price, don't buy it.

Nothing is more easily adulterated than lead and oil-the one with whiting and the other with fish oil. You have noticed how the color of some houses fades and peels off in a year or two. For a dollar or two more that house could have been made to last four years, instead of two.

The trouble all comes from saving (?) 3 cents a gallon on Linseed Oil and 4 cent on White Lead.

We are selling Lead and Oil-pure Lead and Oil, too-at Portland prices, and if anyone offers it to you cheaper the chances are the quality is cheaper,

too.

For the past seven years we have been selling Masury's Liquid Colors, and they have given universal satisfaction. It is without question the best mixed paint on the market. Masury will not use Linseed Oil in his paint without it is at least two years old, and old Linseed Oil is like old whisky.

This year we have also Bay State Mixed Paint, at $1.35 per gallon, which is guaranteed to us, and we guarantee it to you. Try it-at the manufacturer's risk.

We have everything you need for painting-Brushes, Carriage Paint, Bicycle Paint, Bathtub Enamel, Varnish, Stains and Colors in oil.

Come in and get our prices.

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IF THE BABY

is fretful and cross it is not well. This fretfulness is probably due to indigestion, colic, constipation or some other infantile trouble. You feel anxious and want to do something for the baby. We advise you not to use paregoric, laudanum or soothing syrups containing morphine; these are dangerous remedies. Try LAXARIA; a dose or two will make your baby bright and cheerful. LAXARIA contains no stupefying drugs and is absolutely harmless. Satisfaction guaranteed or money returned. Price 25 cents.

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Ghent, Ky.

The larger ad. was a half page one illustrated by a couple of "Yellow Kids" on which the heads of the Driskell brothers had been mounted. This ad. is considerably padded, being filled up with The white space would have helped. large type and huge display lines. More multiplication of bold lines is somewhat The same matter set under confusing. two distinct headings followed by solid paragraphs would have been more effective. The business portion of the ad. is a special offer of a complete lamp for This offer was rather fourteen cents.

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