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involved in the storage of potassium chlorate. It has never been thought that this salt was explosive except when brought into contact with some organic substance, like sugar, for instance, when oxidation takes place with such rapidity as to result in combustion. But it is now known that when the chlorate is heated by a fire, in turn fed by the released oxygen, it actually explodes of itself. This knowledge has resulted in a movement, in New York and Philadelphia especially, for more stringent regulations concerning the storage of potassium chlorate and explosive substances generally. Action toward this end has been accelerated somewhat by the fact that in New York the rate of insurance on the stocks in many drug houses has been increased over 100 per cent.

BLINDNESS
FROM

JAMAICA GINGER.

A decided sensation was promised in Baltimore about the middle of last month, but we have heard nothing of it very recently. Dr. Herbert Harlan, in a paper read before the local medical society, declared that a number of persons in Maryland and neighboring States had either become blind or had died through the use of Jamaica ginger essence made with methyl or "wood" alcohol; and he proved his declaration by submitting

clinical records. He went on to state that the use of methyl alcohol as a substitute for "grain" or ethyl alcohol in manufacturing had increased enormously within the last two or three years—a fact which he regarded as one of grave importance. It seems that as far as the ginger essence is concerned, this is used in certain local option towns in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania by topers who are unable to buy whiskey or alcohol. Only recently, in fact, two members of a party of miners in an Ohio town died from drinking the stuff, and the remaining two members were saved only by the active efforts of physicians. Dr. Harlan's paper led to an investigation, and it was reported that evidence had been piled up against two Baltimore jobbers with respect to the use of methyl alcohol in the manufacture of ginger. This led to the announcement that proceedings would be begun against them, but at this writing such a step

had not been taken.

N. A. R. D. PLAN.

Another one of the "conspiracy" and LEGALITY OF THE "antitrust" suits brought by cutters against druggists who, acting under the N. A. R. D. plan, have made it difficult for them to get goods, has been decided against the cutter. This was the suit brought by the Owl Drug Co., of Los Angeles, Cal., against a jobber and twelve druggists. The decision is very gratifying. One or two more decisions of this sort will afford precedents sufficient to establish beyond peradventure the legality of the N. A. R. D. plan. Two similar suits are now pending-one in Philadelphia, and the other in Wheeling, W. Va.

A LA MRS. NATION.

Getting their cue from Carrie Nation, whose somewhat vigorous campaign of saloon-smashing has recently been furnishing "copy" for the newspapers, followers of the faith-cure leader, Dowie, last month began attacking drug stores in Chicago, Minneapolis, and other western cities, on the ground that drugs are agents of the devil. Armed with canes, umbrellas, and pitchforks they went from store to store in Chicago, staying in each place until they were driven off, and doing as much damage as possible. In every instance they first called the proprietor to the front of the store, told him that in prayer and faith alone lay the cure of disease, declared that in selling drugs he was committing a heinous sin, and then, pulling out their concealed umbrellas and canes, began smashing right and left, meanwhile singing religious hymns. One quick-witted druggist quickly ordered his clerks to bring water, and the smashers were treated to a bath which caused a quick retreat. Another druggist flashed a revolver, with the same effect. But in other instances the women succeeded in doing about all the damage they wanted to. In all, perhaps a dozen or more stores were attacked in Chicago, and possibly as many for the man, that is, whose store wasn't attacked—but in Minneapolis. The affair has rather a humorous side it represents a species of mob law which cannot be too quickly and vigorously put down if peace and order are

to be maintained.

PENNSYLVANIA PROSECUTIONS.

The prosecutions against the Pennsylvania pharmacists for failure to display their registration renewal certificates Warrants for the according to law goes merrily on. arrest of thirty additional Philadelphians were sworn out about the middle of last month, and the same fortune was meted out to pharmacists in other sections of the State. Meanwhile, the bill now before the legislature will repeal the provision making it necessary for the pharmacist to renew his registration, but will in the place of this provide that the store shall be registered periodically. It will be necessary then for the druggist to display only his original registration as a pharmacist; and the confusion over the display of the renewal certificates will be avoided.

In speaking last month about drug men who occupy public offices we did not think to mention Mr. E. G. Swift, Parke, Davis & Co.'s Canadian manager, who was last fall elected to the mayoralty of Walkerville, Canada, which is just across the river from Detroit.

"Vaseline," according to the recent decision of an English judge, "is a descriptive word, and has consequently been removed from the trade-mark register." The question will go to a higher court.

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A BEAUTIFUL PHARMACY.-This illustration represents one of the handsomest stores in the West-that of Reiss Brothers, of Pueblo, Colorado. The fixtures are finished in white enamel, and the fountain seen at the left is constructed of the finest onyx. The two proprietors began business in Pueblo fourteen years ago, and have changed their location twice. The last change was made to this beautiful store, which was constructed by themselves to suit their own ideas, and to render them capable of properly serving their rapidly growing trade. Asked what methods they have followed in achieving so decided a success, they replied that they had "pursued no especial policy aside from that of eternal vigilance, ceaseless assiduity, stern economy, careful buying, and the constant aim to give the very best service possible in every department of the store."

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The Author of "Stringtown on the Pike”

Professor Lloyd's Life and Career-His Pharmaceutical Activities-The Kentucky Scenes of his Popular Novel-Features of the Book of Especial Interest to Pharmacists and Chemists-The Dramatic Uncertainty of the Alkaloidal Test.

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John Uri Lloyd was born in West Bloomfield, New York, April 19, 1849, of New England stock. His ancestors served in the French and Indian wars, the Colonial wars, and the Revolution; and of the societies made up of the "sons" of these various struggles Mr. Lloyd is a member. The list of his ancestors who fought in the Colonial war number twenty-four, and many of them, such as John Webster, the first governor of Massachusetts, are conspicuous in our country's annals. When Mr. Lloyd was three years of age his parents moved to Kentucky, his father, a civil engineer, having been engaged to survey a line for a railroad from Cincinnati to Louisville. With this object in view the family located first at Burlington, Kentucky, whence it successively moved to Petersburg and then to Florence, all in Boone county, now known popularly as "Stringtown" county, through Mr. Lloyd's recent novel. The common schools of these villages presented the only educational opportunities which young Lloyd enjoyed, aside from the home instruction of his parents, both of whom had previously taught school, first in New York State and subsequently in Kentucky.

school and secured a position in the drug store of W. J. M. Gordon & Brother, serving (together with a clerkship with the late George Eger) about fifteen years as apprentice and prescription clerk. Since that date he has been continuously connected with the art of pharmacy, being now the senior member of the firm of Lloyd Brothers. His present home is Norwood, a suburb of Cincinnati, but Kentucky people still claim him to be of themselves, and consider that he is in Ohio for business purposes only.

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The devotion of Mr. Lloyd to pharmacy and to pharmaceutical problems led to his election in 1887 as President of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and led him also

to fill for some years (resigned in 1887) the chair of pharmacy in the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy. For over twenty years now he has held the position of professor of chemistry in the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and at the present time is president of the board of trustees of that institution. He has received the degrees of Ph.M. from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and of Ph.D. from the University of Ohio.

Mr. Lloyd in his study.

When he was 14 years of age, the young man left

Mr. Lloyd has long been a contributor to pharma

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ceutical and chemical literature. Since 1875 his studies in these directions have numbered hundreds. For his scientific contributions to the American Pharmaceutical Association he has been awarded three gold prize

The boyhood home of Mr. Lloyd, as it stands to-day in "Stringtown."

medals, the last being in 1899. His published books along scientific lines embrace "The Chemistry of Medicines;" "A Study in Pharmacy;" and "Elixirs: Their History and Preparation." He is co-author with his brother, C. G. Lloyd, of "Drugs and Medicines of North America;" and co-author with Professor Felter of the recently rewritten edition of "King's American Dispensatory." Along semiscientific lines and speculative philosophy, we have "Etidorhpa, or the End of Earth;" in symbolic literature "The Right Side of the Car;" and in historical romance, "Stringtown on the Pike."

The latter has now been before the public in book form but three months, and already 50,000 copies have been sold. This book, so different from the other works of the author, came, much in the way that "Etidorhpa" did, as a surprise to even Mr. Lloyd's closest friends, and it has made such an impression on the country as to bring its author in a flash conspicuously before the literary world. Indeed, not only can this be said of America, but of Europe as well, for an edition of "Stringtown" has been issued in London, England, and very high praise has been accorded the book by no less an authority than the Academy of London.

Passing the scientific part of Mr. Lloyd's life, a part well known to American pharmacists, and one which could not be touched upon within the limits of this article, something may be said about this book which has excited so much comment, and which bids fair from now on to throw the author's mature thought largely into general literature. Stringtown on the Pike is not a mythical village, but a town that to-day stands in northern Kentucky precisely as it stood during the boyhood of Mr. Lloyd-the true name of the place, however, being Florence. In this village, which is nine miles back of Covington, Mr. Lloyd spent most of his

early life. It is situated on the Lexington (Stringtown) Pike, which was the thoroughfare between the East and the West before Ohio was a State, which is even now second in importance to no pike in Kentucky. This pike has a wonderfully romantic history, the northern part of the road passing through a portion of the country that is picturesque in the extreme, as can be seen from the accompanying illustrations. [These illustrations are from photographs made by Mrs. Lloyd.-THE EDITORS.] Since the days of the Indian this spot in the border-land between the North and the South has been the home of tragic and pathetic incidents which challenge comparison and which are indeed stranger than fiction. It is not surprising that intimate knowledge of such a wealth of material should inspire the romantic side of Mr. Lloyd's pen.

The opening chapter of "Stringtown on the Pike," called "the vision in the moonlight," presents a weird scene, which reminds one of the occult "Etidorhpa." This scene was thought at first to be altogether imaginative, but the Kentucky valley in which it is laid exists in truth, and, deserted yet, is shunned to-day as it was forty years ago. The illustration in the book is literally correct, nor has Mr. Lloyd overdrawn the sensation that possesses a child caught within the precincts of this spot after sundown.

The dialect folklore and superstitions of the old negro Cupe are close studies. The dialect is so true to the section presented as to receive from the people of "Stringtown" county the highest praise, to the effect that "It reads better than any dialect we ever saw." It is safe to say that had Mr. Lloyd been content to copy

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