of mentioning an interpretation of the law which was not afforded to us until near the termination of the proceedings in which we were involved.

We had been led to suppose that the word "may" preceding the words "give such compensation" in the second clause of Lord Campbell's Act, quoted by you at page 94 of your last number, was intended to give the jury a discretionary power, and enable them to take into consideration the blameworthiness of the employer whose servant might have accidentally caused death. But our counsel, Mr. Stephen Temple, Q.C., and Mr. J. R. Quain, advised us otherwise, -that, in the connection in which it is used, the word "may" is equivalent to shall, and that whether the death was occasioned wholly by the act of our servant, wholly by our own act, or partly by one and partly by the other, was immaterial in assessing the amount of the damages.

Under this interpretation of the law, it is evident that the richest member of the profession is liable to total ruin for acts which he can neither foresee nor prevent. We do not believe that any intelligent person who may consider the operation of such a law can believe that it is reasonable. We should be content with such an alteration as would convert the compensation into a fine proportioned to the blameworthiness of the parties.

We were informed that the deceased had insured his life for £1000, and we were advised that this sum, diminishing the loss to his family, was a set-off in our favour.

We crave also to put on record that the strychnia was in an opaque bottle, of which there were only fourteen in the shop, which were placed separate from the dispensing counter and from the bottles in ordinary demand, and that it was not near the Dover's Powder.

Liverpool, 24th September, 1864.

We are, your obedient servants,

CLAY AND ABRAHAM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.

Sir,-It was with much pleasure that I perused your able and equitably written article in the present number of the Pharmaceutical Journal on the above subject, and a few of the remarks you make therein induce me to take the liberty of intruding myself on your notice, to offer briefly a suggestion or two relative to the subject of which you treat.

You make the inquiry, "Now does it not behove us to consider how we can best turn this occurrence"-the late decision in the case of Messrs. Clay and Abraham, of Liverpool-" to account in providing for the future?" and further on, "May there not be something done to relieve the individual who stands legally responsible for a fatal accident, when the most approved precautions have been adopted, from the infliction of an unmerited, although it may be not an unjust penalty?"

I fully agree with you that the knowledge that at any time his business may be shattered, and himself ruined, through the inadvertence or momentary carelessness of even a trustworthy and efficient assistant, however well that business is habitually carried on, may well cause "painful reflections" in the mind of any thoughtful man; but while reading your remarks, I could not help thinking that such anxiety might be removed in a very simple manner.

Let a fund be established bearing the title of "The Chemists' and Druggists' Guarantee Fund," the object of which would be to defray the fine imposed upon any subscriber to it who might have such fine imposed upon him in consequence of medicine of a poisonous nature having been by mistake supplied at his establishment, and death resulting to the person taking that medicine.

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As the net income of many chemists does not exceed a hundred and fifty or two hundred pounds a year, I would suggest that the annual sum to be contributed by each subscriber to entitle him to receive the benefit arising from the fund should not of necessity exceed half-a-guinea; but, nevertheless, it might be intimated that an additional half-a-guinea would be gladly received from those who, in advanced and more prosperous circumstances than the majority of their brethren in the trade, are well able to contribute that amount.

It would be expedient to make a regulation that no fine should be defrayed by the society except in cases where it was clearly and publicly proved that the accident causing such fine to be inflicted was wholly unavoidable on the part of the proprietor of the business, and that all desirable precautions had been taken by him to prevent any such occurrence; and, in addition, that the amount of the fine only, and not the costs of defending the action, should be defrayed by the society, except in cases where the amount contributed had exceeded the stipulated sum of one half-guinea.

To illustrate the method I suggest, let us suppose a fund to have been esta blished two years since, and that immediately on its formation four thousand chemists and druggists had become contributors, of whom three-fourths subscribed half-a-guinea, the remaining fourth one guinea; let us suppose that at the end of the first year an additional one thousand members had been enrolled, of whom eight hundred had contributed half-a-guinea, the remaining two hundred one guinea; had this been the case, at the present time, two years after the establishment of the fund, there would be in the hands of the treasurer the sum of five thousand eight hundred and eighty pounds, less the current expenses. Now, out of such an amount as that, the fine lately imposed at Liverpool could easily be paid, together with the costs of the action, and a considerable sum still remain for future contingencies.

I think that, were these or similar measures adopted, the minds of many conscientious and careful chemists would be relieved of a great and pressing anxiety, while the expense would not be such as to make the tax burdensome: and an association formed on these principles might eventually prove the means of rescuing from bankruptcy and ruin those whose constant endeavours were to perform their duties to the public, their families, and themselves in a right and high-principled manner, but who nevertheless from quite unavoidable circumstances, except for such guarantee, would be subject to overwhelming losses.

I beg leave to apologize for thus trespassing on your time and attention, but hope that should you deem my communication worthy of appearing in the pages of the Pharmaceutical Journal, it might lead its readers to give the method I have suggested their thoughtful consideration, after which it could be adopted or abandoned, as was thought best.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,

J. C.

September, 1864,

POISON CLOSETS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.

Sir,-Among the numerous precautions against accidental poisoning, the most favoured scheme at present seems to be the poison closet; now it is very easy to make your closet, but when made, then comes the question, what are you to put into it? and here lies the difficulty. If too many things are put in, the effect of the special caution is lost; if not enough, and a fatal accident should occur with one of the excluded bottles, a jury would most probably pass

a more severe condemnation on the master in consequence of his keeping that particular article among harmless drugs, when he had a special place for poisons. Would it not be valuable to have a list of those articles that should, in the opinion of those most competent to judge, be kept apart as especially dangerous, so that some uniformity may be observed by those pharmaceutists who adopt this plan? About strychnia, morphia, hydrocyanic acid, Tinct. Opii, and many others, there can of course arise no question, but with Liq. Plumbi, Pulv. Ipecac. Co., Ext. Belladonnæ cum Opio, the strong acids, etc., there might be a doubt as to where they ought to be placed. Again, certain chemicals having very distinctive characters, such as Hyd. Iodid. Rub., Plumbi Iodid., Hyd. Oxyd. Rub., Cupri Sulph., would be as safe out of the closet as in it.

Another question that might be considered is, should the closet only contain the bottles used for dispensing and retail, or should the stock of such articles be kept there also? My own opinion at present is in favour of a very restricted list, but I should like to hear what others in the trade think advisable. I remain, yours faithfully,

Ipswich, Sept. 23, 1864.

H. CHAPMAN.

THE SUPPLY OF COD-LIVER OIL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.

Sir,-The following practical information relating to the supply of cod-liver oil, has been given to me by the captain of a ship, who has been engaged for many years in the Newfoundland trade.

Gracechurch Street, Sept. 15, 1864.

Yours very obediently,

ROBERT HOWDEN.

Cod fishing begins in Newfoundland on or about the 20th day of June, and ends on the last day of October.

The capeling (a small fish) strike in about June 20th, in great numbers, the codfish follow preying upon them.

The fishermen use these capeling as bait from the 20th of June to the end of July, but after that time, to the 10th of August, the codfish have become so glutted with capeling that they will bite no more: when the bait is lowered among them, they can be seen to swim away from it.

Squids and herrings strike in about the last week in August, and are closely followed by other codfish preying upon them. These that follow the squids and herrings are much finer, heavier, and fatter fish than those that follow the capeling.

The capeling are very lively and agile fish, and so are the cod that pursue them, their movements are swift, and they both swim near the surface of the water; but the squids and heavy codfish are only found near the bottom. The lines for the latter have to be heavily leaded.

The livers taken in October are much finer than those taken earlier, but the weather in October is rough, and often so violent as to render fishing impossible.

Therefore the cod-liver oil made in the beginning of the season is the most certain supply, and it may happen in some years to be the only one; but that made later, though not so sure, is superior in quality.

A NEW INDIAN VERMIFUGE.

Mr. G. H. K. Thwaites, Director of the Royal Botanical Garden of Peradenia, Ceylon, thus writes in a recent letter to Mr. D. Hanbury, London:

"There is a species of Erythroxylon here, Sethia indica, DC., which is in great repute as a vermifuge for children. The leaves are dried and pounded, and given to the child with boiled rice. Sethia acuminata Arn. is also given for the same purpose in the same way. Would it be worth while sending you some of the dried leaves for analysis? any quantity could be procured in the low country near the sea. It goes here under the name of Matura Worm Medicine."

BOOKS RECEIVED.

THE LABORATORY GUIDE FOR STUDENTS OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. Arranged by ARTHUR HERBERT CHURCH, M.A., etc. London: John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row. 1864.

FIRST OUTLINES OF A DICTIONARY OF THE SOLUBILITIES OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES. By FRANK H. STORER. One volume in three parts. Part III. Cambridge: Sever and Francis. 1864. COOLEY'S CYCLOPÆDIA OF PRACTICAL RECEIPTS, PRocesses, and ColLATERAL INFORMATION IN THE ARTS, MANUFACTURES, PROFESSIONS, AND TRADES ; including Medicine, Pharmacy, and Domestic Economy. Designed as a comprehensive supplement to the Pharmacopoeias, and general book of reference for the manufacturer, tradesman, amateur, and heads of families. Fourth edition, revised and enlarged. By ARNOLD J. COOLEY and J. C. BROUGH. 8vo. Pp. 1393. London: John Churchill and Sons, New Burlington Street. 1864.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

197.

Rad. Senega (Glasgow).—(1.) The Regulations will be forwarded on application by letter to the Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square. (2.) Pepsine Wine, vol. xviii. p. -Pepsine 3iss, Distilled Water 3vi, White Wine (of Lunel) 5xv, White Sugar 3, Spirit of Wine 5iii: mix, until the Sugar is quite dissolved, and filter. (3.) Syrupus Ferri, Strychnia, et Quinia Citratis.-We are not acquainted with the formula for this

syrup.

We have received a communication from "A Member," in reference to some remarks by Professor Balfour on "Botanical Science and the Bible," in our last number. Our correspondent thinks that the discussion of such subjects is not appropriate for the pages of a scientific journal.

The Liverpool Poisoning Case.-Communications have been received, suggesting that a subscription should be raised for the purpose of reimbursing the firm, but it will be seen, in another part of this Journal, that Messrs. Clay and Abraham respectfully decline this proposal.

A Member (Gloucester) wishes for a recipe for a red and black enamel for filling in inscriptions on tombstones, etc.

Tymm (Mexboro').-(1.) Berg, Pharmazeutische Waarenkunde,' Berlin, 1863; Régnault, Premiers Eléments de Chimie,' 5 francs. (2.) Wiggers, Handbuch der Pharmacognosic,' Göttingen, 1864. (3.) Régnault, Cours Élémentaire de Chimie,' 20 francs. (4.) We must see the books before we can compare them. ERRATUM.-Page 97, line 18, for 21st of October read 26th of October.

Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the transmission of the Journal before the 25th of the month, to ELIAS BREMRIDGE, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements (not later than the 23rd) to Messrs. CHURCHILL, New Burlington Street. Other communications to the Editors, 17, Bloomsbury Square.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.

SECOND SERIES.

VOL. VI.-No. V.-NOVEMBER 1st, 1864.

ON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHEMIST IN DISPENSING MEDICINES.

A case of attempted criminal abortion which recently occurred at Brighton has raised some questions relating to the duties of dispensing chemists, to which it is right to direct the attention of our readers. It appears that a young unmarried woman, a "lodging-house keeper," obtained from a medical man a prescription ordering two ounces of tincture of ergot and two drachms of oil of pennyroyal, of which a teaspoonful was directed to be taken three times a day in water. This prescription was written in the usual medical form, and signed with the initials of the prescriber. It had been made up at various times by at least two different chemists in Brighton during the last four years, but latterly several bottles of the medicine were obtained within a comparatively short time from the chemist with whom the patient usually dealt; and the patient having died while taking the medicine, an inquest was held, and, after a full investigation of the circumstances of the case, in which it was proved that the deceased was four months gone in the family way, a verdict of felo de se was returned. This verdict was accompanied by a statement from the jury that "they thought greater precaution should be used by chemists in dispensing such deleterious medicines." A report of the proceedings at the inquest will be found in another part of this Journal. No one, after reading that report, can doubt, we presume, that the patient took the medicine with a criminal object, namely, that of producing abortion, and that the result of persisting in its use was the destruction of her own life. The questions to be considered by medical men and pharmaceutists are these :— Was the medical man justified, under the circumstances, in ordering such a medicine, and was the chemist justified in dispensing it? Of course, we assume here that the medicine was originally prescribed for some other object than that for which it appears to have been frequently taken. The writer of the prescription alleges that the medicine was ordered for a bronchial affection, but this will hardly be credited. We do not, however, propose to discuss here the conduct of the prescriber so much as that of the dispensers of the medicine; and we are the more induced to notice the subject in consequence of some remarks made upon it in the Medical Times and Gazette' for October 15th. The editor, in a leading article on the subject, calls the "attention of the Pharmaceutical Society to the following particulars :"— 1st. The custom of prescribing, per se. 2ndly. The fact that strong medicines, such as Linum catharticum, were prescribed for a woman of twenty-six,

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