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at a druggist's, as in England, but no goods outside those appertaining to a druggist are sold. In both countries the sale of candy is confined to "medicinal candies," such as black currant and glycerin jujubes (gums). In England, at one time, any unqualified person might open a chemist's shop, but in 1868 the passing of the Pharmacy Act forbade any person engaging in that business without being registered. A pharmaceutical chemist must have a diploma from the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, but a chemist, or druggist, is required only to pass an examination qualifying him as such.

Most of the drug stores abroad have an air of gloom, and there is an absence of commercialism. If the customer is a woman she is sometimes asked if she would like a little

scent, and upon acquiescence is gently sprayed with a delicate perfume. Weird-looking instruments are to be seen reposing upon glass trays inside a case. Soaps, perfumes, sponges, thermometers, etc., may have their places, of course, and glass bottles occupy a place of honor in the windows.

On returning to his own country the traveler appreciates much more than ever before the fact that he can enter a drug store and have his prescription filled, mail his orders, and buy a cigar or a box of candy, or possibly a mousetrap, without having to go to four or five different places. Therefore do we not owe a debt of gratitude to the progressive American druggist, who is willing to combine so many different kinds of goods in his store for the convenience of the public? We surely do.

TURNING CALLS FOR NONSTOCKED ARTICLES INTO CASH

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By H. E. MILLER

Here is an example of how the system we now use works out:

A well-dressed woman comes into the store and asks, "Do you keep Aubry Sisters' Face Cream?"

"No, Madam, we have a large number of different creams in stock, but do not happen to carry that particular kind."

"Isn't it strange? I have been into four other drug stores here and they have never even heard of it."

So far we have not betrayed our ignorance -the fact that we, too, have never heard of the preparation.

She continues: "I have just moved here from New York and have used that cream for years."

We now begin to prick up our ears, for here is a good prospect.

We ask, "What priced jars do you usually buy, Madam?”

"Oh, I never saw anything but the 25-cent size, although I once bought a jar and upon opening it found it was much darker than any I had ever used before. I returned it to the store, and the clerk showed me the difference and said I should always ask for the 'white!'"

We are now wise to the fact that it is a "powder" in cream form that our customer is looking for, and so reach for the blank, which we start to fill out with the name of the article desired.

At the same time we say, "If you will kindly give us your name and address, Madam, we will send an order to-day and try to locate this article for you."

She gives her name and street number, but says they have no phone as yet, because they are newcomers to the town, and are not permanently located. She also informs us that her husband is a railroad man. She has given us the information necessary for filling out the slip. We tell her that we will let her know immediately when we hear from our order, and she goes out, thanking us for our trouble.

SUBMITTED

FOR POISON TESTS

We then mail the order to a jobber at once with instructions for the goods to come by parcel post. If not in stock they are to be sent direct.

When the goods arrive we drop Mrs. Meyers a postal saying, "We now have the article in stock for which you were inquiring on October 7, and will be pleased to show it to you at your convenience."

We do not mention what the article is as the woman may be reticent about having other people know what she purchases.

She comes to the store, finds the "beautifier" the same as she has used, wants to pay us extra for our trouble, and upon our refusal to take more than 25 cents spends about a dollar. When leaving she states that hereafter we will have her trade.

She was a commonplace little woman, but as she entered the store she had undergone a transformation - fairly exuded mystery, it might be said. That she believed "the villain still pursued her" was evinced by nervous backward glances. Her entire person said "s-s-sh" just as plainly as if she had spoken the "sisshy" syllable.

"I have a box of candy here that I believe is poisoned," she confided in a low but determined whisper. "Will you analyze it?”

Figuratively, I sat up and began to observe. "Certainly," I said. "Have you any particular reason for your suspicion?"

"You can judge for yourself," she responded, keeping up the nervous glancing. "The box is, to say the least, queer. The candy is home-made and was sent from Cleveland, where I don't know a soul. Not a scratch of a pen to tell who sent it."

I looked puzzled, as all wise druggists should in like emergencies.

"Well," I suggested, "I might test it for strychnine or morphine. Either test would cost you ten dollars."

"Try both," came the answer, quick and snappy, to the accompaniment of a sharp little click of the teeth. "If any one thinks she can

By EMIL DEA

poison me off the face of the earth, she has another guess coming. When shall I call? To-morrow?"

"Yes."

I carried the package to the mysterious realms behind the mirrored mahogany partition. Here I unwrapped the outer paper, to find a harmless looking pasteboard box, evidently at one time a repository for cakes of cheap toilet soap. The label of the firm, with the brand heralded in impossible printed roses, still held sway on the lid, and the acrid odor of the soap assailed the nostrils, even at a dis

tance.

The lid was lifted and a flap of oiled paper was turned back. Shades of departed candymakers! There, arranged in rows of mellifluous temptation, were sweetmeats calculated to make the palate want to multiply itself a hundred fold: halves of fat pecans resting in tiny beds of creamy whiteness; sugared cherries atop melty looking bits of pink fondant; slices of cream, streaked white, and green, and pink, and brown; dates, stuffed with sweetness; luscious fudges

I swallowed hard three times in rapid succession!

A customer came in and I went to the front

of the store, there to be held for a long time, as other customers came and went.

A friend came in while I was thus engaged, and went back of the case. He was a privileged character, a trained nurse, and I thought nothing of this. He came and went about the store much as he saw fit.

A little later, the rush over, I went back to the box of candy, remembering that I had left it uncovered. One glance and my heart stood still. My friend had devoured a half of the contents of the box!

"I beg your pardon, old man," he said, “but I really couldn't help it. Where'd you get it? Best candy I ever put into my face. Come on; I'll share what's left with you."

"Glad you liked it," I said, thinking hard. "But I'm on a diet and can't qualify. Better not eat any more, though; it'll spoil your dinner, you know—which I want you to take with me. Folks are away and I'm just sort of lunching out, you understand."

"I'm on!" accepted the gourmand. "Lead me to it!"

"Just a minute," I said, and I got busy trying a stomach-pump, to see if it was in firstclass working order.

The dinner proceeded uneventfully from soup through to coffee; but somehow the conversation drifted to poisons, symptoms, and antidotes, and stuck there. I held him at the

table nearly two hours—just as long as I possibly could.

"Guess I'll stay at the shop to-night and work out a stubborn formula," I said at parting. "Call me up there if you want me for anything." But the telephone remained silent throughout the weary watches of the night.

Bright and early the next morning the nurse drifted into the store, looking as sleek and chipper as does a man who had dined well and breakfasted likewise.

"Candy seemed to agree with you?" I inquired lightly.

"Best darned candy I ever tasted in my life!" the human test declared, his eyes brightening reminiscentially.

Just at this point the lady of the suspicions, shrouded in mystery more dense than on the occasion of her first visit, glided into the store. "Did you test the poisoned candy?" she asked in a half-hysterical whisper.

"Yes," I replied.

"Which was it-morphine or strychnine?"

"Neither," I answered.

"Was the test-quite conclusive?" "Absolutely."

The disappointed lady backed warily toward the door, then wheeled suddenly and went out. "What's the row?" inquired the nurse.

"Oh, the lady was asking about that candy you ate yesterday. She had submitted it for poison tests. I told her you tested it."

Not by the glimmer of an eyelash did the human test-tube betray emotion.

"Did you?" he murmured. Then he stooped and picked up two crumpled ten-spots from the floor.

"The lady dropped these in her hurry," he said.

"My fee," I laughed. "Keep 'em, Jim; they belong to you."

"Splits," said the test, as he tossed one bit of green paper on the counter. And we let it go at that.

BOARD QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A NEW YORK EXAMINATION. (Continued from the December BULLETIN.) 19. Give the official definition of sassafras. The dried bark of the root of Sassafras variifolium (Salisbury) O. Kuntze (Syn. Sassafras Sassafras (Linné) Karsten) (Fam. Lauracea), collected in early spring or autumn, and deprived of its periderm.

20. Give the official definition of cascara sagrada.

The dried bark of Rhamnus Purshiana De Candolle (Fam. Rhamnacea), collected at least one year before being used.

21. How do do mezereum and cotton-root bark differ in (a) general appearance, (b) medicinal properties, (c) official dose, (d) official preparations, (e) habitat.

(a) Mezereum is the reddish-brown bark of the stem. It has an epidermis which is sometimes replaced by a corky substance. Cotton-root bark is the yellowish-red bark of the root and has no epidermis. It also shows an earth contact which is lacking in the

mezereum.

(b) Mezereum is used as a sialagogue, stimulant, and alterative, and externally as a vesicant, while cotton-root bark is employed as an emmenagogue and oxytocic.

(c) The official dose (30 grains) of cottonroot bark is four times as much as that of mezereum (71⁄2 grains).

(d) Other than the bark itself there are no official preparations of cotton-root bark, while mezereum is official as the fluidextract and also as a constituent of compound fluidextract of sarsaparilla.

(e) Mezereum is found in the mountainous regions of Europe, Siberia, Canada, and New England, while the habitat of cotton-root bark is Asia and Africa. The latter is also cultivated in the United States.

22. Name three official leaves, giving the definition of each.

(a) Belladonna leaves. The dried leaves of Atropa Belladonna Linné (Fam. Solanaceae), yielding by the process given in the U. S. P. not less than 0.30 per cent of mydriatic alkaloids.

(b) Salvia. The dried leaves of Salvia officinalis Linné (Fam. Labiata).

(c) Buchu. The dried leaves of Barosma betulina (Thunberg) Bartling and Wendland (Fam. Rutacea).

23. Define the following botanic terms: (a) tomentose, (b) epicarp, (c) exogenous.

(a) When the surface of a plant (either of stems or leaves) is covered with short and soft hairs (as in mullein) it is said to be "tomentose."

(b) The epicarp is the outer layer of the pericarp (the wall of the fruit).

(c) Exogenous plants are those which increase in growth by the addition of wood on the outer side and next to the bark.

24. Define (a) abortive, (b) analgesic, (c) antacid, (d) demulcent, (e) rubefacient.

(a) An abortive is an agent that causes the premature arrest of a morbid or a natural pro

cess.

(b) An analgesic is a remedy which relieves pain either by direct depression of the centers of perception and sensation in the cerebrum, or by impairing the conductivity of the sensory nerve fibers.

(c) An antacid is an alkali which lessens acidity in the stomach but which is oxidized in the blood, and excreted as carbonates in the urine, decreasing its acidity.

(d) A demulcent is a substance, usually of an oleaginous or mucilaginous nature, which soothes and protects the part to which it is applied.

(e) A rubefacient is a substance which produces temporary redness and congestion of the skin without causing exudation between the cuticle and the true skin.

25. Give the definition of a bulb.

A bulb is a spheroidal leaf-bud, usually developed underground, consisting of a cluster of oppressed, thickened, scale-like leaves growing from the top of a stem which is shortened to a mere disk and throws out roots from its lower face.

26. Name an official bulb and give the definition.

Scilla. The bulb of Urginea maritima (Linné) Baker (Fam. Lilacea), deprived of its dry, membranaceous outer scales, cut into thin slices and carefully dried, the central portions being rejected.

27. Give the official definition of ipecac.

The dried root, to which may be attached a portion of the stem not exceeding 7 cm. in length, of Cephaëlis Ipecacuanha (Brotero) A. Richard (Fam. Rubiacea), known commercially as Rio, Brazilian, or Para ipecac, or the corresponding portion of C. acuminata Karsten, known commercially as Carthagena ipecac, yielding, when assayed by the process given in the U. S..P., not less than 1.75 per cent of ipecac alkaloids.

28. Give the distinction between the two varieties of ipecac.

Rio ipecac occurs in pieces of irregular length rarely exceeding 25 cm.; stem portion 2 to 3 mm. thick, light gray-brown, cylindrical and smoothish; root portion usually redbrown, occasionally blackish-brown, rarely gray-brown, 3 to 6 mm. thick, curved and sharply flexuous, nearly free from rootlets, occasionally branched, closely annulated with thickened, incomplete rings, and usually exhibiting transverse tissues, with vertical sides, through the bark; fracture short, the very thick easily separable bark whitish, usually resinous, the thin, tough wood yellowish-white, without vessels; odor very slight, peculiar, the dust sternutatory; taste bitter and nauseous, somewhat acrid.

Carthagena ipecac is similar to Rio, but about one-half thicker, dull-gray externally, with thinner, merging annulæ, and the fractured surface of the bark gray.

29. (a) State the habitat of ipecac; (b) give its official dose.

(a) Rio ipecac grows in the damp woods of

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the Brazilian valleys, Carthagena ipecac comes from Colombia.

(b) As an expectorant, 1 grain; as an emetic, 15 grains.

PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY.

1. Give (a) the common name for diluted hydrocyanic acid, and (b) state how it is prepared.

(a) Diluted prussic acid.

(b) Mix 15.54 Cc. of diluted hydrochloric acid with 44.10 Cc. of diluted water, add 6 grammes of silver cyanide, and shake the whole together in a glass-stoppered bottle. When the precipitate has subsided, pour off the clear liquid.

2. State (a) the chemical composition of tartar emetic and (b) name two official preparations into which it enters.

(a) Antimony and potassium tartrate. (b) Compound syrup of squill and wine of antimony.

3. Write the chemical formula for each of the following: (a) ammonim iodide, (b) barium carbonate, (c) mercurous sulphate, (d) salicylic acid, (e) lithium phosphate.

(a) NHI.

(b) Ba CO2.

(c) Hg2 SO4.

(d) HC,H,O3. (e) LisPO.

4. Give the chemical name of each of the following: (a) AsI,, (b) H2BOз, (c) C3H5 (NO3)3, (d) Fe(C2H2O2)з, (e) CdSO.

(a) Arsenous iodide, (b) boric acid, (c) glyceryl trinitrate, (d) ferric acetate, (e) cadmium sulphate.

5. Complete the following equations: (a) ZnSO4 + H2S=

(b) 2AgNO3 + ZnCl2=

(c) Hg(NO3)2+2 NaI=

(d) NaHSO3 + HCl=

(a) In an alkaline solution zinc sulphide and

(e) 3FeCl2 + 2HC1 - HNO3=

an alkaline sulphate would be obtained. acid solution no reaction would occur. (b) = 2 AgCl + Zn (NO3) 2.

(c) = HgI2+2NaNO3.

(d) =3FeCl3 + 2H2O + NO2.

In an

6. Define the following terms: (a) catalysis, (b) test solution, (c) subsalt, (d) amide, (e) saturation.

an agent that influences the rate of change in chemical reactions, the agent itself remaining stable.

(b) A solution used for the purpose of determining the identity, purity, or strength of drugs or their preparations.

(c) One that contains more of a base than suffices to neutralize the acid.

(d) A compound formed by the replacement of hydrogen in ammonia by another radical.

(e) The impregnation of one substance with another till no more can be retained.

7. How many grammes of anhydrous calcium chloride will be required to convert 175 grammes of official sulphuric acid into calcium sulphate? [Atomic weights: Ca=39.8, Cl= 35.18, H=1, S-31.83, O=15.88.]

The following reaction takes place:
CaCl2 + H2SO1=CaSO, + 2HC1.

Official sulphuric acid contains 92.5 per cent absolute acid. Therefore 175 grammes of official acid is equivalent to 92.5 per cent of 175, or 161.875 grammes absolute acid.

110.16 (mol. wt. CaCl2): 97.35 (mol. wt. absolute H2SO1)=

X (required wt. CaSO,): 161.875 (wt. absolute acid).

97.35 X 17832.15

X=183.17 grammes of anhydrous calcium chloride required.

8. Give two chemical tests for distinguishing between yellow oxide and yellow iodide of mercury.

When yellow iodide of mercury is heated with sulphuric acid and a little manganese dioxide, vapor of iodine is evolved. Yellow oxide of mercury does not give this reaction.

In contact with a solution of potassium iodide, yellow iodide of mercury is decomposed into mercuric iodide which dissolves, and metallic mercury which remains undissolved. Yellow oxide of mercury does not give a similar reaction.

9. Give a characteristic test for potassium citrate.

An aqueous solution of potassium citrate yields a white, crystalline precipitate with sodium bitartrate test solution.

10. Write the equation that takes place in the manufacture of ammoniated mercury. (a) Catalysis is a process in which is used HgCl2 + NH.OH=NH,C1+ NH2HgCl + H2O. (To be continued.)

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