A Poison Law probably exists on the statute books of your State. Are you acquainted with its provisions, and do you meet with its requirements?

African Medicinal Plants have been sent us by our correspondent from that country. Perhaps some of our readers would like to undertake the introduction of these new remedies. If so, we will be pleased to place them in direct correspondence with our representative on African soil.

Chlorate of Potash sounded and looked all right when written or seen in print many years ago. Potassium chlorate is the proper way of designating

the chemical at the present time. The same rule of nomenclature applies to other similar chemicals. Those manufacturers and dealers following the old style are as far out of date as the method of warfare pursued by the Spaniards in Cuba.

Colorless Solutions are always innocent looking and when poisonous, often lead to serious mistakes. Not long since an old traveler for a wholesale jeweler firm drank from a solution of potassium cyanide and died instantly. The solution was in a jeweler store and intended for cleaning purposes. These accidents suggest the desirability of State laws requiring all poisonous solutions to be colored red, green or some other suitable shade. Such a practice would certainly save many lives.

For Work and not for honors should be the consideration of the president in appointing members of the committee in the State Pharmaceutical Association.

The reports of the various organizations show that committee members often consider themselves ornamental rather than useful. In Missouri the chairman of each committee is required to acknowledge in writing his appointment and agree to discharge the duties of the office to the best of his ability; he is also held responsible for the work of his assistants on the committee.

The National Formulary is a useful volume constantly growing in favor of both pharmacist and physician. We note an extended article in one of our exchanges on the nomenclature of the National Formulary. We feel that this feature of the work should be revised in such a way that the names are cut down to a reasonable length. At present the majority of them are as long as the moral law. It is useless to think that physicians will fall into the habit of writing such extended names. When abbreviated by a physician they are difficult to recognize. Pharmaceutical Titles are numerous, for the student of to-day can select from the following: Ph. G., Phr. Dr., Ph. C., M. Ph., B. S., Ph. B. Of these even half-dozen titles four have been added within the past few years, and we are informed that some of the colleges think of springing still other titles on the public in the near future. As we have already suggested in the columns of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST, the best title of all for a retail druggist is Ph. R., signifying registered pharmacist. No one

has a right to practice pharmacy without it, and we trust that its use will continue to grow in favor.

Potassium Chlorate is an innocent looking chemical, but dangerous on account of its explosive properties when mixed with a substance easily oxodized. Accidents have recently occurred when making tablets of potassium chlorate in a room with a high temperature. Death resulted not long ago from the burning of the clothing of a man who had for some time worn the same suit while powdering potassium chlorate. A lighted match set fire to his garments.

Physicians report that potassium chlorate is a dangerous medicine when taken in large doses. The apprentice should be made acquainted with these facts early in his experience.

Should Pharmacists manufacture their own preparations? Such is the wording of a question bobbing up annually at various State meetings. We are happy to find the query in a more practical form presented at one of our annual meetings. It reads as follows: "What pharmaceuticals is it profitable for a druggist to buy, and which should he make himself?" These questions, however, must be answered differently by the pharmacist conducting a large retail store and the one who gets along without a clerk. It is fully agreed, however, that the competent pharmacist has the knowledge and skill necessary to manufacture any preparation which necessity may demand profit suggest.

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Degenerating France.-Just at this time when we hear so much about an alliance between France and Spain comes interesting news about efforts being made to stop the loss of 20,000 of population a year in one country. French physicians have decided that better care must be taken of the babies. Among the rules to be enforced is a law prohibiting the giving of solid food to an infant under one year old. Just how this law is to be enforced is more than we can understand unless an officer is appointed as a guardian for each new born. Perhaps the Government will confine its arrests to the indiscreet mothers who comment as one is reported to have done when her 10month-old baby died. She said, "I do not know why the baby died, for it was perfectly well this morning. I know it was not sick because it ate three fried eggs." Nor are the babies to be fed liquid food in the old careless style. The use of long rubber tubes to feeding bottles is prohibited because of the difficulty of keeping them sterilized. No doubt our readers in other countries than France who are at the head of families will rejoice that no such invasion of parental authority is necessary outside of France.

Human Dummies is the heading of an article in a trade journal which details the manner in which a London dealer supplies people of a suitable class for public occasions of all kinds, such as receptions, parties, etc., where the success of the occasion depends largely upon the number present. This man with an eye to business has extended his field of operation to that of stores having special sales. For

a consideration any merchant can have his store crowded with supposed customers at a given hour of a special day. No one of the human dummies is acquainted with another, so each supposes all the rest are genuine customers. If the crowds seen at special sales in American cities is any indication, we are confident that human dummies are to be found in America as well as England.

Missouri Pharmacist and members of other State pharmaceutical associations will be interested in learning the result of the innovation relative to amusements and scientific sessions made at the recent St. Louis meeting of the M. Ph. A. The business and scientific meetings were held each day from 10 a. m. to I p. m. at the Lindell Hotel. The amusements occurred at the Forest Park Cottage; several miles distant, the entertainment commencing at 4 p. m. and continuing until after 6 o'clock. The evening entertainments were held at the same place. We find considerable diversity of opinion as to the outcome of this arrangement. The business sessions were regularly and constantly attended by all visiting druggists, and many of the St. Louis druggists were present. The amusement feature failed to draw the immense crowd which has characterized its sessions at Meramec Highlands and Excelsior Springs. For years the argument has been made that but few would attend the annual meetings if it was not for the sports, and the recent meeting shows that many came to St. Louis more for business and scientific work than for amusement. On the other hand, the number who registered this year is small compared to that of former meetings. Some say that many staid away on account of the business and scientific and social features being separated.

All of this presents food for thought and reflection. Meantime, Chairman C. A. Lips of the entertainment committee, W. L. Meyer of the Traveler's entertainment committee and president Thomas Layton of the M. Ph. A. must be given unusual credit for their efficient services to the association in particular and Missouri pharmacy in general.. Under trying conditions they have discharged the duties of their difficult positions in a highly satisfactory manner.

Is It Now or Never?-Our readers are familiar with the fact that within a short time the new revenue act regarding the stamp tax on proprietary articles, perfumery, etc., will become law and we presume you also know that this will enhance the cost of all such articles.

The proprietary article business is very large in the aggregate in the United States and such goods are not subject to fluctuations in prices. It may cost the manufacturer of a patent medicine or other articles of that character more to-day than it did yesterday (due to the difference in cost of the ingredients which he uses in his preparation or the amount he spends in advertising), but it is customary with the manufacturer to adopt a scale of prices at which he expects to sell his goods by the gross or dozen, and to this scale of prices he adheres as a rule without regard to

the cost to him. He takes into consideration at what prices these goods shall be sold at retail, the object being that the retail dealer shall make a fair profit in selling them, and these prices are generally printed on the outside wrapper of each package-hence they are the legitimate prices.

Some ten or more years ago an unfortunate innovation was made by certain enterprising dealers to cut these established prices in order to draw trade, and the state of things that followed, and still exists, has been a terrible blow to the retail drug interests of the whole country, with the result that in many places all the goods are sold at an absolute loss. The retail dealer may get a few cents more than he pays for these goods, but when he takes into consideration what it costs him to do his business, which in most cases is over 25 per cent on his sales, he actually sells such articles at a very heavy loss. The cutting of prices on that class of goods has become quite general

and we are satisfied that most if not all of those who were the pioneers in cutting have become tired of it.

No more apportune time could be chosen to correct this evil and to re-establish the legitimate retail prices than now; hence we appeal to the entire drug trade of the United States to take advantage of this present opportunity to immediately move in this matter. We urge the druggists in every city, town or village where cutting of prices prevails to call meetings and to solemnly agree that full prices will be absolutely adhered to from and after July 1st next (or earlier, when the stamp tax will go into effect). Please bury your hatchet of warfare against your competitor in trade, bury your animosities just as the North and the South have buried their unfriendly feeling of the past. Do not let the so-called "Department Stores" scare you out of your wits, even if they do handle a few dozen articles that they may sell at ruinous prices. The extent to which they may injure you will not compare with the profits you are now being deprived of and the heavy losses you actually

sustain.

It now seems quite likely that many of the leading proprietary and toilet article manufacturers, influenced mainly by the cutting that prevails and the fact that most retailers give away the profits on their goods, will advance their prices and this is an additional reason why prices should be restored and maintained. Remember that an article which is intended to retail at one dollar will require, unless the bill is further changed, a two-and-a-half cent stamp and at other prices in the same proportion, whether you sell it for less or even give it away, and this fact in itself is a strong argument in favor of adhering to the legitimate prices.

As the law now reads a stamp need not be attached to stock on hand until the article is actually offered for sale by the retail dealer.

Help Others when you can, but don't give away that which you don't possess; be just before you are

generous.

STRAY ITEMS AND COMMENTS.

Delinquent subscriptions are announced by pink envelopes.

Send us your queries, problems, difficulties, interrogations, disappointments and comments.

Odd Orders are always interesting, often amusing, and the practice of reading them useful. We are glad to publish contributions of this kind from our readers.

Anusol is the name of a new German compound of iodine, resorcin, sulphonic acid and bismuth. As might be surmised from the name, it is used for hemorrhoids. The inventor of the compound is of a humorous turn of mind.

Much Pharmaceutical information is contained in each issue of the Philadelphia Medical Journal. We consider it as appropriate a medical journal for the pharmacist as any published. The price, $3.00 per year, for its weekly visits will be money well invested.

Benzoinated Lard made by the aid of castor oil and etheral extract of benzoin is now attracting attention in one of our Eastern local pharmaceutical organizations. The published report of the meeting fails to indicate that any reference was made to the original proposition by Dr. A. E. Ebert, of Chicago, who demonstrated the process at a recent meeting of his State association. The doctor pointed out that wood alcohol is a better solvent than ether; it is not so expensive and less dangerous to handle.

Medical Articles of special interest to pharmacists have appeared in the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST as follows:

What the Pharmacist Should Know About Small-Pox and Vaccination, April, 1895, page 138; by W. S. Barker, M. D.

What a Pharmacist Should Know About the Hypodermatic Syringe, page 196 of May, 1895; by Hartwell N. Lyon, M. D.

What a Pharmacist Should Know About the Eyes, page 290 of July, 1895: by Henry L. Wolfner, M. D.

What a Pharmacist Should Know About a Heat Stroke, page 330 of August, 1895; by W. S. Barker, M. D.

What a Pharmacist Should Know About Certain Poison Accidents, page 380 of September, 1895; by J. C. Falk, M. D.

What a Pharmacist Should Know About the Diseases of the Ear, page 90 of the February, 1896 issue; by D. C. Gamble, M. D. Roman Medicine Stamps are interesting relics

now being brought to light. The Pharmaceutical Journal says: "Most of the stamps discovered are inscribed with the names of medicines or preparations applicable for affections of the eye, and the diseases, when specified, are invariably of an ophthalmic nature. It is therefore probable that these stamps were used by oculists alone. The Romans employed the term collyria to both solid and liquid applications for the eye. The solid collyria were composed of various ingredients with a base of gum and starch, and wrought to a pasty consistence."

Klondike Doctors. For the benefit of any physicians who may have in contemplation emigration to the Klondike region for the purpose of practicing medicine, the editor of a medical exchange calls attention to the following provisions of the laws of the Dominion of Canada governing the subject. Diplomas from any regular British or Canadian Medical College entitle the holder, upon proper identification and the payment of a fee of $25 to practice. Physicians who are graduates of other medical colleges including the United States, are required to pass a satisfactory examination and to pay a fee of $50. The Board of Examiners for the Northwest Territories holds its sessions at Calgary. Dr. Britt, of Banff, N. W. T., is the registrar.

The New British Pharmacopoeia is receiving much attention from the English journals. The Pharmaceutical Journal says: "The new Pharmacopoeia contains 535 pages, of which ninety-one are absorbed by the index, while the 1885 edition had 536 and thirtyfour devoted to the index. Imperialism is not, therefore, manifest in increase of bulk. It is not apparent in the body of the work at all; but by careful search we have discovered a hint of it in the table of contents, a few explanatory words in the preface, and one and one-fifth pages-we wish to ascribe due importance to it-on details in an appendix—‘Alternative preparations sanctioned for use in India and the Colonies.' Permission is given to make the official ointments of such proportions of indurated lard, suet and beeswax as shall be desirable in the different countries, providing always that the proper proportion of active ingredient is maintained. In tropical countries Aquæ may be prepared by triturating essential oils with calcium phosphate and water. The liquid extracts may be prepared with an increase of alcohol when required for their better preservation, as may also Syrupus Rhoados. In India and the Colonies more or less white beeswax may be substituted in suppositories for an equivalent quantity of oil of theobroma, according to the prevailing temperatures. In no instance is permission given to supplant one drug by another. The only approach to such a thing is that it is permitted to use dried lemon peel when fresh lemon peel is unobtainable in India and the Colonies. It is intimated that the Council intends to deal more fully with the trans-oceanic part of the Imperial Pharmacopoeia in an addendum."

A Druggists Trials. "What did that woman want?" "She came in to say she wished we would keep our postage stamps on the cigar counter instead of with the soap. She said that tasteing soap made

her ill."-[Detroit Free Press.

For Malaria chew the first violets of the season, eat apples Easter time, keep a three-colored cat in the house. Pass the fever over to some one else, if possible to an animal, or plant, or bury it in the ground.

Testimonial.-Dear Sir: I wear one of your electric belts, and must confess that it is out of sight.