16th. In reference to the patronage on the part of Physicians of particular apothecaries, we are of opinion, as a general rule, that Graduates in Pharmacy should be encouraged in preference to others of the same date of business, and whilst admitting the abstract right of the physician to send his prescription where he pleases, we think that justice should dictate the propriety of his encouraging the nearest apothecary deserving of his confidence and that of the patient.

[We republish the above Report from the American Journal of Pharmacy, as its “hints” are, in the main, practical and judicious. On one or two points, however, we differ from the author of the report. We do not think (B. Article 4th,) that the apothecary is ever justified in making inquiries relative to the disease of a patient. If his very inquiries may “convey a wrong impression to the patient, through an ignorant messenger,” how can that ignorant messenger give information regarding the disease of a patient, which can guide the apothecary, himself not supposed to be versed in therapeutics, in judging of the correctness of a prescription? The apothecary, where he is in doubt, may inquire the dose and the age of the patient, and then, if he deems necessary, may have recourse to the physician himself. And in regard to the next article, when the apothecary is asked the “nature of the ingredients” in a prescription, it is wisest to refer the patient, as a rule, to the prescriber.]—ED. JOURNAL OF PHARMACY.

NOTE ON THE DIVISION OF GUM RESINS IN POTIONS, AND IN DIACHYLON PLAISTER.

At a recent meeting of the Society of Pharmacy, M. Poulenc, submitted a method which he has employed for eight years in his laboratory, for suspending gum resins in medical prescriptions. It is well known how much difficulty there is in suspending either in a mixture, or lotion, one or more grammes of gum ammoniac, assafœtida, myrrh, &c. In dividing the {59} assafœtida with yolk of egg alone, the manipulation is long; but if instead of the egg, we employ 6 or 8 drops of oil of sweet almonds per gramme, the gum resin, even when entire, is easily reduced; when the oil is well mixed, and the paste as homogeneous as possible, a little water is first added, then gradually the quantity of the prescribed vehicle, as for the mucilage of a linctus; the product of this operation will be a speedy and very perfect emulsion. One of the advantages of this modus faciendi, is, that the product can be warmed without danger of coagulation, besides which, it is generally more easy to obtain a few drops of oil of sweet almonds, or any other kind of oil than the yolk of an egg.

M. Poulenc has recently applied the same method to the manufacture of diachylon plaister, in the following manner: take some entire pieces of gum resin, and triturate them briskly in an iron mortar, after which in a marble, or porcelain mortar, mix in the oil, and add a sufficient quantity of water to obtain an emulsion about as thick as liquid honey; strain this through a coarse cloth; there will be hardly anything left on the cloth, and the strained substance will be perfectly homogeneous. Evaporate in an earthen vessel, by the water-bath, the water which had been mixed in, and when the mass presents the appearance of a soft extract, the other ingredients of the plaister may be mixed in with the greatest ease. This plaister presents a very beautiful appearance, and exhales a very decided odour of the gum resins employed in its composition. Should it be feared that the small quantity of oil, might weaken the consistence of the plaister, M. Poulenc thinks that the quantity of turpentine might, without inconvenience, be slightly diminished.

We have tried with success the method of M. Poulenc for emulsions with gum resins; as to its further use in the preparation of diachylon plaister, we cannot speak with certainty.—There is a chemical question, which, in all cases governs the preparation of phar­ma­ceu­ti­cal agents.—Stan. Martin, L’Abeille Medicale.

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