The Practice of Pharmacy

equivalents has been added, and the feature of indicating working formulas by heavy-faced type has been retained.

In conclusion, the author desires to express his thanks to his many professional friends for the words of encouragement with which they have favored him; while to the pharmaceutical students, who mainly use the work as their guide, he trusts that the third edition will prove as welcome as its predecessor, and be a valuable aid in leading them to success and prosperity.

PHILADELPHIA, August, 1894.

J. P. R.

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

THE rapid and substantial progress made in Pharmacy within the last decade has created a necessity for a work treating of the improved apparatus, the revised processes, and the recently introduced preparations of the age.

The vast advances made in theoretical and applied chemistry and physics have had much to do with the development of pharmaceutical science, and these have been reflected in all the revised editions of the Pharmacopoeias which have been recently published. When the author was elected in 1874 to the chair of Theory and Practice of Pharmacy in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, the outlines of study which had been so carefully prepared for the classes by his eminent predecessors, Professor William Procter, Jr., and Professor Edward Parrish, were found to be not strictly in accord, either in their arrangement of the subjects or in their method of treatment. Desiring to preserve the distinctive characteristics of each, an effort was at once made to frame a system which should embody their valuable features, embrace new subjects, and still retain that harmony of plan and proper sequence which are absolutely essential to the success of any system.

The strictly alphabetical classification of subjects which is now universally adopted by Pharmacopoeias and Dispensatories, although admirable in works of reference, presents an effectual stumbling-block to the acquisition of pharmaceutical knowledge through systematic study: the vast accumulation of facts collected under each head being arranged lexically, they necessarily have no connection with one another, and thus the saving of labor effected by considering similar groups together, and the value of the association of kindred subjects, are lost to the student. In the method of grouping the subjects which is herein adopted, the constant aim has been to arrange the latter in such a manner that the reader shall be gradually led from the consideration of elementary subjects to those which involve more advanced knowledge, whilst the selves are so placed as to follow one another in a natural sequence. The work is divided into six parts. Part I. is devoted to detailed descriptions of apparatus and definitions and comments on general pharmaceutical processes.

groups them

The Officinal Preparations alone are considered in Part II. Due weight and prominence are thus given to the Pharmacopoeia, the Na tional authority, which is now so thoroughly recognized.

In order to suit the convenience of pharmacists who prefer to weigh solids and measure liquids, the officinal formulas are expressed, in addition to parts by weight, in avoirdupois weight and apothecaries' measure. These equivalents are printed in bold type, near the margin, and arranged so as to fit them for quick and accurate reference.

Part III. treats of Inorganic Chemical Substances. Precedence is of course given to officinal preparations in these. The descriptions, solubilities, and tests for identity and impurities of each substance are systematically tabulated under its proper title. It is confidently believed that by this method of arrangement the valuable descriptive features of the Pharmacopoeia will be more prominently developed, ready reference facilitated, and close study of the details rendered easy. Each chemical operation is accompanied by equations, whilst the reaction is, in addition, explained in words.

The Carbon Compounds, or Organic Chemical Substances, are considered in Part IV. These are naturally grouped according to the physical and medical properties of their principal constituents, beginning with simple bodies like cellulin, gum, etc., and progressing to the most highly organized alkaloids, etc.

Part V. is devoted to Extemporaneous Pharmacy. Care has been taken to treat of the practice which would be best adapted for the needs of the many pharmacists who conduct operations upon a moderate scale, rather than for those of the few who manage very large establishments. In this, as well as in other parts of the work, operations are illustrated which are conducted by manufacturing pharmacists.

Part VI. contains a Formulary of Pharmaceutical Preparations which have not been recognized by the Pharmacopoeia. The recipes selected are chiefly those which have been heretofore rather difficult of access to most pharmacists, yet such as are likely to be in request. Many private formulas are embraced in the collection; and such of the preparations of the old Pharmacopoeias as have not been included in the new edition, but are still in use, have been inserted.

In conclusion, the author ventures to express the hope that the work will prove an efficient help to the pharmaceutical student as well as to the pharmacist and the physician. Although the labor has been mainly performed amidst the harassing cares of active professional duties, and perfection is known to be unattainable, no pains has been spared to discover and correct errors and omissions in the text. The author's warmest acknowledgments are tendered to Mr. A. B. Taylor, Mr. Joseph McCreery, and Mr. George M. Smith for their valuable assistance in revising the proof-sheets, and to the latter especially for his work on the index. The outline illustrations, by Mr. John Collins, were drawn either from the actual objects or from photographs taken by the author. PHILADELPHIA, October, 1885.