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In last month's BULLETIN mention was made of the more important features of the recent annual meeting of the British Pharmaceutical Conference at Dublin; in this number it may prove interesting to print portraits of the men who had most to do with making the meeting the success it was. The gentleman shown in engraving number one is Mr. William F. Wells, chairman of the local committee, and an ex-president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. Below him is Mr. George D. Beggs, honorary treasurer of the local committee, and this year's president of the society mentioned. The gentleman in the center is President Druce of the Conference, arrayed in the mayoral robes which he wears by virtue of being chief executive of the city of Oxford. As was mentioned last month, Mr. Druce is a practicing pharmacist, a botanical authority, curator of the Fielding Herbarium in Oxford University, and author of several botanical works. To the right of president Druce is, first, in engraving number three, Mr. Taylor, the senior secretary of the Conference, who resigned his post this year after sixteen years of faithful and able service; second, Mr. J. I. Bernard, who, as secretary of the local committee, did most to make the meeting the great social success it was; and third, Professor Ashe, lecturer on materia medica in the school of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, who helped much to entertain the visitors. Finally, in engraving number seven the visitors are shown wending their way through "the Devil's Glen," a beautiful spot visited on one of the excursions provided by the local committee. The BULLETIN is indebted for the pictures to Mr. Thomas Maben, the well known pharmacist of Glasgow, Scotland. Mr. Maben is the gentleman with the white waistcoat seen in the "Devil's Glen" picture.

WHYS IN PHARMACY.

The Thousand and One Processes of Pharmacy Explained — Things Which Every Pharmacist Ought to Know and Remember-Especially Adapted to the Needs of the Clerk and the Student.

By EDSEL A. RUDDIMAN, Ph.M., M.D.,

Professor of Pharmacy and Materia Medica, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.

LINIMENTS.

(Continued from page 370 of the September BULLETIN.)

171. Why does an old rancid oil make a better liniment when mixed with an alkali than a fresh oil? The free fat acid combines more readily, forming soap which helps to suspend the remainder of the oil.

172. Why is alcohol used in ammonia liniment? It is put in to thin the liniment and prevent it from getting too thick.

173. Why does ammonia liniment sometimes become solid? The ammonia, acting on the oil, forms a soap which is the cause of solidification. In lime liniment a solid soap of lime is formed.

174. Why is powdered soap preferable to bar soap in making soap liniment? It is more constant in its amount of water. A nearly saturated solution is wanted, and it would be difficult to get that with bar soap without getting an excess.

175. Why is soap liniment allowed to stand for twentyfour hours before filtering? Soap contains some sodium palmitate, which goes into solution at first, but which afterwards precipitates and is then filtered out.

176. Why does soap frequently precipitate even when the directions are followed? The liniment is intended to be a saturated solution of soap; sometimes, however, an excess of soap is unintentionally put in through the fact that it contained less water at times, and this excess is often precipitated by a change in temperature or evaporation of alcohol.

177. Why, in making chloroform liniment, is there sometimes a separation into two layers? This separation is due to the use of an excess of water or a deficient amount of alcohol in making the soap lini

ment.

MASSES.

178. Why is it that copaiba solidifies with such a small amount of magnesia? The magnesia combines with the resin, forming a bulky resin soap that solidifies the oil. Magnesia employed with the oil of copaiba does not solidify.

181. Why is syrup added to the solution of ferrous sulphate in making mass of iron? Sugar prevents or retards the oxidation of the ferrous salt.

182. Why is the washing of ferrous carbonate by decantation preferable to washing on a filter? There is less exposure to the oxygen of the air.

183. Why does mass of carbonate of iron sometimes become brown on keeping? It oxidizes to ferric oxide, which is brown.

184. Why is it that carbonate of iron thus prepared has a green color when pure ferrous carbonate is white? Because all the commercial ferrous sulphate carbonate contains some ferric salt, and this green product is a combination of ferrous and ferric iron.

185. Why are honey and glycerin good for the extinguishing of mercury? Because they are viscid and keep the globules of mercury apart.

186. Why is mass of mercury called "blue mass?" Mercury in a very fine state of subdivision has a bluish

color.

OLEATES.

187. Why are oleates of the metals preferably made by double decomposition? Because oleic acid combines slowly with a metallic oxide or hydrate.

188. Why is the oleate of mercury best made without heat? If even a little heat is used the oleate decomposes much more quickly, ultimately precipitating metallic mercury.

189. Why is it generally necessary to add acetic acid to clear a mixture of lead acetate and water, as in making oleate of lead, N. F.? Lead acetate contains a little lead carbonate, which is insoluble in water, but which is converted into the acetate by the acid.

190. Why must a large excess of acetic acid be avoided in making oleate of lead, N. F.? Acetic acid would liberate oleic acid from sodium oleate, making the lead soft and sticky.

191. Why is it necessary to add some acetic acid to the solution of soap in making lead oleate? Soap is some

179. Why is water used in making mass of copaiba? times strongly alkaline, and the lead would be precipitated It aids the chemical reaction.

180. Why is boiling distilled water used to dissolve the ferrous sulphate in making mass of carbonote of iron? It is free from oxygen and so will not oxidize the ferrous salt into the ferric condition.

as the hydrate or carbonate instead of the oleate.

192. Why is boiling water used in washing lead oleate? The heat softens or liquefies the oleate and thus gives the water a better chance to dissolve out the sodium acetate.

(To be continued.)

T

A HANDSOME LOS ANGELES PHARMACY.

The Establishment of Wolf & Chilson- Methods by which a Business Requiring the Services of Sixteen Persons has been Quickly Built Up.

Certainly one of the best and most expensively fittedup pharmacies on the Pacific Coast is that of Wolf & Chilson, of Los Angeles, California, shown in the engraving on the opposite page. It is often question for argument whether a handsome store brings increased business or not. That it indisputably does, however, Wolf & Chilson have proved to their own satisfaction. They push every possible line of advertising to the utmost, and yet they unhesitatingly declare, after over two years of experimentation, that their beautiful new establishment is by all means the best advertisement they ever had. It may be said in passing that this has been the experience of the McArthur Drug Company, of Des Moines, Iowa, whose handsome new store was made the subject of illustration in the BULLETIN of last April.

Wolf & Chilson have not been in business very long. Both men are young, and yet they have already built up an establishment utilizing the services of sixteen people! It goes without saying that an energetic firm which can accomplish this in so short a time must be able to give advice worthy of being followed by other aspiring and ambitious mortals. Asked for a statement of their business methods, Wolf & Chilson replied as follows:

Our first business rule is promptness, especially in attending customers; in fact, we almost meet customers at the door. They don't like waiting, either to give an order, or to receive the goods after the order is given.

Nor do we suggest another preparation when a patron asks for some standard patent or other remedy, as many stores feel compelled to do because of the awful cuts in retail prices.

Our town is badly demoralized as to prices, but, though we are cutters from necessity rather than choice, we have always kept on the bottom and let the fact be known.

We advertise both in the morning and evening papers, running a four-inch “ad." every day; but the major portion of our advertising is in the form of booklets and circulars, which we wrap in packages and send by mail to possible patrons.

We enclose you several of our recent booklets. We are great believers in advertising if one keeps everlastingly at it. Spasmodic and jerky efforts, however, are useless.

Our prescription department has always been our special care. We had little or none four years ago, on taking this store, and have seen it grow until now we have one of the best prescription businesses in Los Angeles. We keep the department isolated as much as possible from the rest of the store, thereby creating more confidence in both doctor and patient. We have a prescription check system that practically keeps the department free from mistakes.

Finally, we have endeavored in every way to make the name of Wolf & Chilson stand for everything that is best in pharmacy.

The booklets and circulars that Messrs. Wolf & Chilson speak of sending the BULLETIN in the foregoing remarks are excellent examples of good advertising. Three of the samples are little eight- or ten-page booklets, about three by four and a half inches in size, which are intended to be wrapped in all packages sent out of the store. They are attractively written, and are neatly printed on a good quality of paper. In each of these booklets some special line of goods is taken up, such as leather articles, toilet specialties, brushes and combs, and the like. The prescription department, as the foregoing remarks of this enterprising firm would indicate, is also liberally advertised, and its merits constantly kept before the Los Angeles public.

Wolf & Chilson send us one bit of advertising which strikes us as being particularly good. It is a folder printed on a superior quality of quite heavy paper, peagreen in color. On the lap is a neat design of a young girl with her ear at the telephone, and near her is the legend: "At the other end of the 'phone." Piqued with curiosity to know what this fair young maid is hearing, you open the folder and find that "at the other end of your 'phone is the splendid service of the Finest Drug Store on the Pacific Coast"-Wolf & Chilson's. In a very sincere and earnest manner you are made to realize that your business over the 'phone is requested; that orders given over it will be delivered promptly; that five boys are constantly used to deliver goods; that the stock is large and complete in every particular; that anything you might possibly want you are sure to get; and, in short, that you have only to call up Wolf & Chilson and briefly express your wish to have it promptly gratified without any trouble or inconvenience. On the top of the folder is a printed and gummed slip, bearing the name, business, and address of the firm, and their two telephone numbers. You are requested to tear this off and paste it on your 'phone, so that you will know whom to call up and what number to give.

This 'phone folder was sent to every telephone subscriber in the city-to 6800 persons; and it "boomed " the 'phone-order feature of the firm's business to a surprising extent.

This goes to show that it pays to advertise-if it is done properly and wisely. The most successful druggists to-day are those who make a careful study of this all-important question, and who strive earnestly to keep their names and their business before the public. There are a good many ways of doing it; some are better suited to a given locality than others; and each druggist must work out his own salvation.

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THE BEAUTIFUL PHARMACY OF WOLF & CHILSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. (See article on opposite page.)

Forty-ninth Annual Meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Held at St. Louis Last
Month-One of the Most Successful Gatherings in the History of the Organization—

Much Work Done of Great Practical Value to Retail Pharmacists-The New
Exhibit Feature-Critical and Classified Review of the Proceedings.

The forty-ninth annual meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Association, held in St. Louis during the week beginning September 16, was one of the most successful in the entire history of the organization. In accordance with the new policy of the association, more time and attention were given to things of direct practical interest to pharmacists generally, including the exhibits of manufactured products, and the session at which the exhibitors explained their goods; and interest in these features was very great during the entire meeting. More than the usual proportion of retailers were present, and that they found the gathering of great profit to them was evidenced by their close attendance upon the sessions. Never within the experience of the present writer has such interest been shown in the sessions, and never has the attendance at them been so uniformly large. The significance of this is dwelt upon at some length in an editorial on another page.

Then, too, Local Secretary Whelpley had worked indefatigably for months to secure a large attendance

and surgery. The deaths of Drs. Squibb and Rice were then mentioned, and the services of these men to pharmacy spoken of with appreciation and insight. The Special Committee on National Legislation was highly commended for its efforts in assisting similar committees to secure the repeal of the odious and burdensome stamp tax last winter; and it was recommended that the committee be made a standing one-a recommendation which was adopted by the association. President Patton is a member of the old school who believes in the efficacy

The Southern Hotel, where the meeting was held.

and to perfect the local arrangements in every possible way. He was enthusiastically assisted by members of the local trade and their wives and daughters, and by Mrs. Whelpley, chairwoman of the Ladies' Committee; and it is not too much to say that every possible comfort and convenience was provided the 435 or more visitors in attendance. The unceasing and well directed efforts of Dr. Whelpley and his assistants had much to do with the unusual size of the gathering, and with the smooth and successful manner in which it was conducted throughout the entire week.

THE ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT PATTON

opened with a brief résumé of the achievements of the century just closed in the various sciences and arts, particular mention being made of electricity, telegraphy, printing, bacteriology, and, finally, medicine, pharmacy,

of apprenticeship training in pharmacy, and who is inclined to doubt the value of training in the colleges of pharmacy. Particularly does he believe that the poorer schools of pharmacy have done serious harm to the calling. He looks for some improvement, however, from the newly-organized "Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties," whose efforts will be directed "towards raising the standards of quality, and demanding better training on the part of those who enter the curriculum of the Presicollege." **

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dent Patton, besides doubting the value of the pharmaceutical colleges as succedaneums for apprenticeship training, doubts also the value of organization which is to-day "esteemed the panacea for the various ills that afflict the body politic." He rebels under the limitations which he believes these impose upon the individual; and, though he did not say so in his address, it would seem that he had in mind such bodies as the N. A. R. D.

THE PROCTOR MEMORIAL.

President Patton discussed at some length in his address the form of memorial which should be chosen to honor the services of the "father of American pharmacy," William Proctor, Jr. In his opinion a research. laboratory would be most desirable, but he did not think the necessary money could be obtained for it. Moreover, "the ground in this direction is already somewhat

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