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Don't keep carbolic acid and carbolic oil on the same shelf.

Don't keep liquor ammoniæ and liquor calcis together.

Don't keep cocaine hydrochloride and morphine hydrochloride on the same shelf or in the same-shaped bottles.

Don't put away a bottle without again reading the label to make sure you have got the right article. Don't talk while you are dispensing.

Don't alter a prescription without the doctor's or patient's consent.

Don't sell mercury and nitric acid in the same bottle. Don't be too ready to undertake minor surgery. Don't, as a rule, admit an error to a customer. Don't prepare camphorated oil by heating, and don't keep it in bottles with loosely fitting caps.

Don't sell carbolic oil in a wet bottle.

Don't make or buy more perishable drugs than you can sell while they remain good.

Don't fail to get warranties with all drugs. Don't forget to counterpoise the scale-pans when weighing quinine and the like.

Prescription-filling Routine.

In a paper entitled "Notes On Teaching Dispensing," presented at the San Francisco meeting of the A. Ph. A., E. Fullerton Cook suggested the following routine as the one to be employed when filling a prescription:

1. Study the prescription as a whole, thoroughly understand it, and decide upon the method of procedure.

2. Place on the counter all of the containers of ingredients needed, in the order to be used and on the left-hand side of the balance.

3. Fill the prescription and place the product in the container, capping it, if a bottle. As each ingredient is weighed or measured, the container is placed on the right-hand side of the balance, thus serving as a check on the ingredients added, should the compounder be called away.

4. Write the main label and attach it, together with any other labels, such as "Shake well," "Copy," etc. 5. Check the prescription to an assistant, repeating the ingredients and their quantities, and also the writing on labels.

6. Price the prescription in accordance with a definite pricing schedule. The N. A. R. D. schedule is satisfactory for the teaching of a system, and it may be explained to the student that neighborhood conditions may require, at times, either an increasing or decreasing of the amounts there fixed.

7. Wrap the prescription and attach a delivery card or label.

Preventing Rancidity in Prepared Lard.—

Writing in the Pharmaceutical Journal of London, G. M. Arrowsmith has the following to say:

"Some years ago I was using a quantity of prepared lard, and was constantly annoyed by the rapidity with which it became rancid. Whereupon I hit upon the following simple expedient for preserving it: Preparing a small batch of lard myself, I submerged in it a small corked bottle containing a little formalin;

through the cork was inserted a glass tube which projected a little above the surface of the lard. The lard remained fresh and sweet for at least a year until I had occasion to use it."

To Clean Capsules After Filling with a Powder.

"To clean capsules," said Geo. M. Beringer, at a meeting of the New Jersey Pharmaceutical Association, "take a piece of absorbent gauze of such size that it can be folded into a square of eight or ten inches, having four thicknesses of material. Place the capsules to be cleaned in the center of this. Gather up the corners and edges of the gauze square into one hand, in such a manner that the capsules are suspended in a loose bag.

"Now rub this bag across the palm of the other hand a few times, pressing firmly. Each capsule is rubbed between the layers of gauze, and every particle of powder is removed, leaving the capsules bright and clean.”

Sealing Capsules.—

T. W. Norwood, of Savannah, Ga., writing in the Journal of the N. A. R. D., gives the following method for securely sealing gelatin capsules:

"Make a small mop of a piece of cotton on the end of a matchstick, leaving a point extending over the end; wet the mop; bend the point of it over; stick the other end of matchstick in a large cork; as capsules are filled, moisten the top by slipping over the end of mop and slowly turning. By this method I have never yet had a capsule swell or leak at the joint, a trouble which 1 have often had when dipping the capsule, and have heard others complain of."

Glycerite of Orange.

The following is taken from the 1915 proceedings of the New York State Pharmaceutical Association :

G. O. Rowland, of Edinburgh, says that a glycerite of orange and glycerite of lemon of superior flavor can be made by pouring 4 ounces of boiling water on 4 ounces of the fresh outer peel and agitating about ten minutes, then adding 16 ounces of glycerin. Macerate three days, then filter. If an acid flavor is desired, add half an ounce of citric acid. He claims a finer flavor from this than the respective syrups furnish.

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BUSINESS HINTS

Putting in Another Door Doubles Trade.

How the simple process of making a second entrance into a druggist's shop took him from the broad path of failure and placed him on the highway that leads to success is described by a writer in the Retail Druggist as follows:

"My store is situated on a corner, facing on the main business street of the suburb. The door and show windows looked out on one street, while the other side of the building presented nothing but a brick wall to the passer-by. Business never seemed to increase, but went along just paying expenses and affording me a scant living. I tried every conceivable means to stimulate trade. I advertised extensively and displayed fine goods in my window. I tried raffles, bonus sales, and many other schemes-all without success.

"One day while standing outside of the store on the side street, I noticed large numbers of people passing up and down the walk. The elevated road has a station at this corner and the stairs led down and stopped right by my brick wall. Here was a place where thousands of people passed to and from their trains every day, and probably the greater part of them didn't know what was behind that brick wall.

"The possibilities in that crowd of people struck me all at once, and I wondered at my short-sightedness in passing up those possibilities for so many months. Why, if I could only sell one per cent of them each day, only one out of every hundred, I could increase my sales threefold. I went into the store and telephoned to a contractor.

"At the end of that week people passing up and down the side street saw, instead of an unsightly brick wall, a double door flanked by two spacious display windows. These windows were filled with my finest goods, neatly arranged.

"The effect of this change was noticeable within a day. Hundreds stopped to look at the windows, and nearly half of those who stopped came in and made purchases. And they were all strange faces, people who had never been in my store before, but who had probably been passing day in and day out for months, maybe years, without knowing I was there.

"Thus, by making a little change in the architect's original ideas of the building, I was able to increase my business, not 5 per cent nor 25 per cent, but, as my books showed two months after the change, over 100 per cent."

Worth Trying, Maybe.

Several notes entitled "A few ideas untried but worth study and possible application" appeared in an issue of System some time ago. The two following are suited to druggists' use:

1. If I were a druggist I would have cards printed, listing the names of all physicians in my neighborhood. Opposite each name I would add the professional man's street and telephone address, his consulting hours and the kind of service he offered. If space permitted, I

would list dentists also. At the top I would have a cord to hang the card up by.

My own name and address would appear at the bottom, above the legend: "These are the men who will tell you what to get. Get it from us. We will call for your prescription and return it correctly compounded, at no extra charge."

2. If I were a druggist or a stationer I would, for a change, throw out of my window the hackneyed display of heterogeneous articles which only attract the shopper who knows what he wants to buy, and replace them with a strong display of a few special lines which would attract because of their novelty, their quality, or their value. Then on each side of the window I would publish an index or list of seasonable articles with prices plainly marked. I would have a number of cardboard arrows suspended in the window pointing from the articles displayed to the stock lists at the side, each bearing a different legend, such as "How is this for value? Other good bargains at the side," or, "If this is not what you want, please consult the list."

Handling the Grouchy Customer.

Herbert N. Casson in the Roller Monthly offers the following suggestions for handling a class of customers that is encountered in even the best regulated drug

stores:

When a customer has a grouch, what then? In the first place, listen. Don't talk. Pay attention to the grouch. Let the customer tell the whole story to the last word.

Let him find fault. Let him explode, if he insists upon it. Let him get the grouch out of his system. Then-·

In the second place, begin gently to put some pleasant ideas into him, to take place of the grouch. Appreciate his troubles. Talk to him from his own point of view.

This will surprise him. He has come at you as an opponent and, presto!-you are transformed into a sympathetic friend.

At once he begins to regret his bad temper. He makes some stumbling apologies-you have won him

over.

Touching Up Delinquent Customers.

As a means for cleaning up the 1915 accounts on his books, George Worley, of Covington, Ohio, enclosed the following letter with all statements sent out on February 1:

DEAR FRIEND:

We thank you for favors shown in helping us to make the past year one of our very best. On our part we shall endeavor to continue to merit your patronage; in fact, we are trying our best to make this "the people's store." Just now we are giving our attention to cleaning up the balances on our ledger for 1915. If this does not correspond with our January 1 statement, or if you note any errors, remember we are only human and are liable to mistake. We will gladly make corrections. Appreciating your past favors and awaiting your further commands, I am,

Yours truly,

GEORGE WORLEY.

The amount due was stated on the bottom of each letter and a request made for settlement by February 10.

QUERIES

Information is given in this department under the following conditions only: (1) No queries are answered by mail; (2) queries must reach us before the 15th of the month to be answered in the BULLETIN of the month following: (3) inquirers must in every instance be regular subscribers; and (4) names and addresses must be affixed to all communications.

Overcoming the Tobacco Habit.

C. C. F. writes: "Very often we are asked for something that will remove the craving for tobacco. Can you furnish us with a good antidote?"

The exercise of more or less (usually more) willpower is perhaps the most effective procedure for overcoming the desire for tobacco. However, to furnish a formula for will-power is decidedly out of our line, so we are supplying a recipe for the following placebo which has been recommended as a substitute for tobacco:

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Make a decoction of the licorice and gentian roots with sufficient water so that it will measure about two pints, when strained. In this decoction macerate the bay leaves over night, remove excessive moisture by shaking, lay them into flat sheets, and by pressure form into blocks the shape of tobacco plugs.

According to the National Druggist, the bark of the tulip tree, Liriodendron Tulipifera Lin., is a good cure for the tobacco habit. A small piece of the inner bark is chewed whenever the habitué has a desire to chew or smoke.

We understand that tablets of gentian, cinchona, and other bitter tonics are sometimes used. The explanation for the efficacy of these bitter drugs is twofold: First, they remove the desire for tobacco to some extent; secondly, by virtue of their taste and presence in the mouth, they take the place of tobacco. The tablets are not swallowed, but are allowed to dissolve on the tongue.

Some Legal Information.

A. S. B. writes: "I am going to put a hair preparation on the market and have decided to call it "Blank's" Dandruff Cream. Can I trade-mark or copyright the title, and what steps shall I take to have this done? Will it be necessary to have the weight or measure printed on the container? To whom shall I write for information in regard to guaranteeing the preparation under the Federal Food and Drugs Act? Will it be necessary for this preparation to carry revenue stamps?"

You cannot secure a copyright on a preparation. A copyright is granted only on printed matter such as books, stories, written articles and plays, and on published illustrations, paintings, and drawings.

A trade-mark consists of a word, mark, or device adopted by a manufacturer or vendor to distinguish his productions from other productions of the same article. The government does not grant trade-marks, as such,

but simply registers them, and it would be best for you to employ a patent solicitor in order to secure an effective registration. Information may be obtained from the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

As to the necessity of having the weight or measure placed upon the container, we would advise you to take up the matter with the proper board in your State, but if you intend to do interstate business, we think that it would be advisable to place the weight or measure on the container so as to be on the safe side in the different States.

It is not necessary at all, under the Federal Food and Drugs Act, to guarantee your preparation. When a manufacturer does guarantee a product it is merely for the purpose of satisfying his distributors, protecting them against legal trouble, and thus earning their good-will. If you do decide to guarantee a product, however, you can no longer get a serial number issued at Washington, and print that serial number on your packages. That method was withdrawn by the government some time ago, and the only way now you can issue a guaranty to your dealer is to attach it to each bill of goods. We suggest that you consult your local lawyer about the phraseology of the guaranty. This whole question was discussed at some length on page 307 of the BULLETIN for July, 1914.

It will be necessary for you to place revenue stamps on the preparation.

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page 546 of the eighth revision of the U. S. P. A onebottle alkaline copper solution that is frequently used is known as Haines' test. The formula follows:

Take pure copper sulphate, 30 grains; distilled water 1⁄2 fluidounce; make a perfect solution, and add pure glycerin, 1⁄2 fluidounce; mix thoroughly and add 5 fluidounces of solution of potassium hydroxide.

The presence of albumin is easily detected by the heat test. To perform it, take a long test-tube, half fill it with filtered and, if necessary, acidulated urine (if the urine is already sharply acid to litmus no acidulation is necessary) and boil the upper half of the column by holding the tube slant-wise in a Bunsen or spirit lamp flame. If albumin is present it will coagulate with the heat and form a white precipitate, insoluble in acetic or nitric acids.

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150 grammes. .330 grammes. ....600 Cc. .....3600 Cc.

to a temperature of from

150° to 160° F. While the water is warming break up the crystals of citric acid in a mortar and rub up with them the magnesium carbonate. Then pour on a small quantity of the warm water at a time, triturating briskly, and as the effervescence quiets down add more water.

In this way the carbon dioxide is soon driven off. When the solution is clear strain through muslin or paper, add the syrup of citric acid and sufficient water to make the whole measure 3600 Cc. Then pour into bottles and add to each one 2.5 grammes of potassium bicarbonate just before corking.

A convenient form of potassium bicarbonate to use is the 40-grain tablets offered by the larger pharmaceutical manufacturers.

What Sweet Oil Is.

The P. Drug Co. writes: "How can we make sweet oil?"

Before the enactment of the Federal Food and Drugs Act it was the practice of many druggists to label

cottonseed oil, or a mixture of cottonseed and olive oils, as "sweet oil." A careful consideration of the subject by the proper authorities has led to the conclusion that the only oil to which the term "sweet oil" may be correctly applied is olive oil. It is held, therefore, by the Board of Food and Drug Inspection, that any oil other than olive oil is misbranded when sold under the name of "sweet oil." It is not permissible, for example, to label cottonseed oil as "sweet oil" and then elsewhere on the label to describe correctly the true character of the oil.

To answer your question plainly: you can make "sweet oil" only by expressing it from olives.

Fire-extinguishers in Powder Form.

C. & J. ask: "Will you print a formula for a fireextinguisher in dry powder form?"

Many of the so-called powder fire-extinguishers depend upon the action of common salt, sodium bicarbonate, or sand, or mixtures containing them, to put out fires. Here are a couple of formulas for such compounds, taken from the literature:

1. Sodium chloride, 4 parts; sodium bicarbonate, 3 parts; sodium sulphate, 1 part; calcium chloride, 1 part; sand, 1 part.

2. Sodium chloride, 3 parts; ammonium chloride, 3 parts; sodium bicarbonate, 4 parts.

The mixed powders are thrown directly upon the burning article when it is desired to smother a blaze.

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