PHARMACY ON A BRITISH TROOPSHIP. BY EITTON. The pharmaceutical arrangements on board one of Her Majesty's troopships are necessarily more or less elaborate and extensive, but I do not think any detailed account of them has ever appeared in any pharmaceutical journal. The present writer has an exceptional opportunity for supplying accurate information, as he is actually writing this com.nunication on board one of these ships. The old-fashioned troopship has for the last few years entirely ceased to exist, as the ships originally built for this purpose gradually became obsolete, and were not replaced by others. Troops are now conveyed on ships belonging to either the Peninsular and Oriental or British India steamship companies. They are chartered for a certain number of voyages, and come for the time being under the entire control of the admiralty, for it is this department, and not the war office, which is responsible for the transport of troops from one part of the world to another. A room is fitted up in the ship as a pharmacy. It is a fair-sized compartment—as things go on board ship-measuring 15 feet by 12 by 10, and is fitted with properly labelled and stoppered bottles containing all the principal drugs. Each bottle is secured CAUTION! from rolling about by means of a double shelf forming a socket, in which it is firmly held. There is a good-sized dispensing counter measuring 6 feet by 4. An ordinary pharmaceutical balance with glass scale pan is fixed in a sliding attachment. A sink is pro vided, but water is not laid on. There is a liberal supply of measure-glasses, pestles and mortars and bottles. A pill machine, ointment slab, and spatula are also provided. Poisons are kept in a locked cupboard, the key of which is kept by the sergeant compounder. A regular staff of medical officers is provided, and the senior is detailed as "Medical Officer in Charge of the Ship." He is directly responsible for the health of all troops on board and all medical stores and apparatus. The pharmaceutical department is deputed to a Sergeant-Compounder of the Medical Staff Corps, who is assisted by a corporal and the privates of the corps. There is a regular hospital on board, with beds for 36 patients. On the outward voyage this is not much occupied, but on the homeward trip provision has frequently to be made for quadruple this number. A strict system of prescription writing is observed, and all prescriptions are written direct into books kept for the purpose. The military pharmacist has no assistant who is qualified to relieve him, and, in consequence, is practically always on duty; but, as a matter of fact, "Montserrat" (TRADE MARK) Lime Fruit Juice and Cordials. The success of the above has caused many IMITATIONS to spring up, many of them UTTERLY WORTHLESS Concoctions. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance to Traders as well as the Public to see that the mark of the MONTSERRAT CO. (Limited), and the SOLE CONSIGNEES, are on the capsule of each Bottle. The word "Montserrat" is also duly registered as a trade mark. Legal proceedings will be instituted against all persons infringing the Trade Mark as above named. SOLE CONSIGNEES: EVANS & SONS, Limited. Wholesale Druggists and Manufacturing Pharmaceutical Chemists, MONTREAL and TORONTO, Canada, BOSTON, Mass. EVANS SONS & CO., Liverpool, Eng. EVANS, LESCHER & WEBB, London. Eng. Extracts. his work does not occupy more than four hours a day. The sick are seen at 10 o'clock daily, and all prescription books reach the pharmacy about 11 o'clock daily, so that the dispenser can generally complete his duties before one o'clock. The rate of pay of the dispenser on board a troopship is very good. He receives 2s 8d. a day regimental pay, Is. a day corps pay, and is. a day extra duty pay, making 4s. 8d. in all, or 32s. 8d. a week. He is fully fed, and has comfortable quarters, so that the military pharmacist on a troopship has an excellent opportunity for saving money. The corporal, who is, of course, a much younger soldier, receives 2s. 1d. a day regimental pay, 8d. a day corps pay, and 4d. a day extra duty pay, making 35. Id. a day, or £1 Is. 7d. a week. The orderlies receive no extra pay, which seems somewhat unfair, as their duties as nurses on the homeward voyage are often very onerous. Their pay is only is. 2d. a day regimental pay, and 8d. a day corps pay.-British and Colonial Druggist. LOADED SPONGES ONce more. PATENTS. There is another aspect of the patent medicine question that should receive the attention of physicians and pharmacists, namely, that the public must have a source of supply of simple and general remedies for slight ailments. It cannot be expected of an intelligent public that the services of a physician must be had for every indisposition, when they have been taught the nature of their ailment and know the proper remedy. Medicine is no longer a mysterious calling, and the sooner physicians recognize the higher intelligence of the people of the end of the nineteenth century, the higher will the respect for the profession of medicine grow among laymen. If the various patent, trademarked and proprietary medicines intended for use by laymen were displaced by preparations of known composition, and their effects published in clear, honest statemnnts, and sold by druggists when called for by the public, the death-blow would be struck to the proprietary remedies whose formulæ, as well as the claims made as to their medicinal property, in the large majority of cases, are based on falsehood and misrepresentation. —J. H. Redsecker, Pres. Penn. Pharm. Asso. So is a tyro in microscopy who poses, in court, as an expert. So is a microscopical expert in one department who poses as an expert in another department. So is an expert who for a fee, under the guise of being an expert, acts as an attorney for one of the parties to a suit. The disagreements and contradictions of microscopists in court is disgraceful. A fixed set of stupid questions are permitted and the scientifically stupid attorney on the other side is generally too obtuse to cross examine so as to elicit the whole truth.-Microscopical Journal. The loading of sponges is still practised. notwithstanding the number of times it has been ex-posed in the columns of the Reporter. At first sand and lime A The sophisticators, were used. when found out, discarded these substances, and later they resorted to glycerine and silicate of soda. In every instance they have been exposed, but they are bound to defraud the public if they can find any way of doing so without being detected. Latterly they have resorted to brine and sand. They dip the sponge in the brine and a large quantity of it is absorbed. Only a small quantity of the sand is used, however. Thus they are enabled to offer Florida sheeps' wool here at less then $2.70 per pound, which is the price bid on the wharf at Key West by the sellers of pure goods. It is a pity that the practice of loading sponges cannot be stopped. There is but one way, so far as we can see, and that is to refuse to patronize any but reputable houses and to pay a fair price for a pure article. tunately, dealers are in a measure responsible for a certain amount of the loading practised, as they inhaving a cheap sponge, and several of them sist on are now sanded. Unfor buying sponges which they know to be The sponge market is firm by reason of the fact that the operations of the fleet around Key West have produced a feeling of insecurity among the fishermen, hence the amount gathered is small. No Cuban is being marketed and the European buyers in Nassau are paying such high prices as to secure practically everything offered.-From the Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter, June 6, 1898, THE FIVE CENT CUSTOMER. It may, perhaps, be that in our attempt to increase our trade in fancy mixed drinks, on which there is a greater profit, we have neglected to give as much attention as we ought to the five-cent customer. Many make a great mistake in thinking that anything will do for these customers. How erroneous this idea is can easily be seen, when you count how many more there are who spend five cents at a time than ten cents. Keep a count some day and see the result. COMPRESSED DRUGS. A doctor, writing to a medical contemporary, states that he had occasion to prescribe for a patient with nervous headache, coupled with vomiting, compressed tablets of phenacetin, gr. iv; caffeine, gr. j. These were made up locally by chemists. Three months ago the tablets from one maker gave relief, though occasionally vomited unchanged three or four hours after administration. They were not noticed in the stools. More recently similar tablets from another maker gave no relief whatever. They were increased up to ten daily without producing any physiological action on the patient. These tablets were sometimes vomited many hours after administration, and were passed in the stools quite unchanged. Antipyrin gr. x in water was then prescribed, with the most happy results.-Pharm. Journal. P.A.T.A. ANNUAL MEETING. The meeting of the above association took place in the parlor of the Queen's Hotel, Toronto, July 6th. The attendance did not realize anticipation and the business transacted was principally of a routine nature. President T. Milburn was in the chair and after calling the meeting to business presented the following address : GENTLEMEN,— It is my privilege to call the second annual meeting of the Proprietary Articles Trade Association to order. In doing so allow me again to express my thanks for the honor you have conferred on me in electing me the first President of this Association, and as members of this Association I think you will regret with me that there has not been more accomplished in the way of protecting the Retail Trade from the cutting of prices. I also regret that there has not been a more united effort between the three sections of the Drug Trade, namely, The Wholesale and Retail Druggists and the Proprietary Medicine Manufacturers than there has been in the past year to that end. Before calling upon our Secretary for the reading of the minutes let me say it is to be regretted that the Wholesale Drug Association has been disbanded without any hopes at present for its re-organization and I personally regret that more good did not result from the efforts of the three Associations in their joint efforts to stop the cutting of prices in all sections. In looking forward I feel it my duty to call your attention to the necessity of this Association still continuing as an organization and would recommend that three new committees be appointed, one for infringements, one for new members, future success or organization of this Association, and the other to look after changes in the laws affecting Proprietary Medicines. This has been exemplified in the last six months, as you will see by referring to a copy of the act representing the sale of Patent and other Medi cines containing Alcohol, which was passed by the Ontario Legislature about two years ago, which act affects not only the Proprietary Medicines, but all Retail Druggists in Ontario. By the united efforts of the Retail Druggists and this Association, the act has been repealed and the bill now in your hands is in full force. I would also strongly recommend that all disputes or differences of any kind with members of this Association, be settled by arbitration in the usual way, each party choosing an arbitrator and these two choose a third. I have made my address brief as the work this year has been limited owing to the committee appointed by the Retail Drug Association failing to meet the committee appointed by this Association last September, to take into consideration the best plan to prevent the cutting of prices and further to see if some plan could not be inaugurated to restore prices where they have been cut. I will now call upon the Secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting. On motion of Mr. J. McKee, seconded by Mr. H. L. Pieler; the address was received and adopted. Minutes of previous meeting were adopted as printed. Then the secretary's report was presented showing the numerical strength and financial standing of the Association. Both are in a satisfactory condition. The membership is 46, practically the entire patent medicine trade of the Dominion. Matters of business which had received the attention of the executive during the year were briefly referred to. On motion the report was received and adopted. The next item of business was the following resolution presented by Mr. Pieler, of The Abbey Effervescent Salt Co. : Whereas, despite the repeated efforts of this Association, aided by the efforts of the Wholesale and Retail Drug Associations, to prevent sales by cutters and persons not entitled to trade in proprietary medicines, no system has as yet been proposed which could be considered feasible or practicable; And whereas, at the meeting of this Association, held on the 7th of September, 1897, the proposition of the Wholesale Drug Association was rejected, owing to the general feeling that if adopted by the manufacturers it would not bring about the handling of proprietary medicines by only the legitimate trade; And whereas, The Abbey Effervescent Salt Co., Limited, of Montreal, at the time of the last meeting of this Association had already adopted a similar plan, and have met with a large measure of success in preventing the sale of their preparation by persons outside of the legitimate drug trade; Distinctly A Case Sought The Prep- For years before we ever heard of Taka- Clinical Tableau of Starch and emphasizing the fairly boundless Taka-Diastase is beyond all com- Parke, Davis & Co., Eastern Depot for Canada, 378 St. Paul St., Montreal. Walkerville, Ont. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Be it resolved, that a committee be now named to reconsider the proposition made at that meeting and the modification of it as adopted and brought into active operation by the Abbey Effervescent Salt Co., Limited, of Montreal, a member of this Association, and report to this meeting upon the advisability of adopting such a scheme, with any modification that would render it generally applicable to the businesses of all the members of this Association. In speaking to the resolution Mr. Pieler referred to the existing relations between the manufacturer and retailer and the desirability of placing them on a more satisfactory basis. The resolution presented pointed in that direction. He regretted the fact that when the matter was before the Association a year ago a committee had not been appointed and an agreement entered into. The Abbey Effervescent Salt Co. had decided that it was possible to protect the retail trade, and while not claiming infallibility for the plan proposed, yet it had been fairly successful when applied to their own business. He asked fair consideration for the resolution. Dr. Pierce, of the World's Dispensaries, Buffalo, replied, giving the results of similar plans tried in the States, which had been anything but encouraging, and giving it as his opinion that the successful plan had not yet been devised. A general discussion followed, resulting in a motion to file, which carried. "Substitution," a topic of perennial verdure, was then broached by one of the members, and the discussion following demonstrated a strong disposition on the part of a certain class to start a campaign of abuse and vilification of the retail druggist. The suggested plan was to be modeled after the American scheme wherein the newspapers were a factor of the conspiracy. The veteran Dr. Pierce, of Buffalo, came to the rescue, however, and true to his reputation for sturdy integrity, combatted the suggestion, his wise counsel prevailed and the scheme in the form propose was abandoned. Election of officers then resulted as follows:— President, J. H. McKinnon, Toronto; vice-president, G. F. Fulford, Brockville; secy.-treas., L. S. Levee, Toronto; board of control, J. McKee, chairman, Toronto; G. T. Hawkins, Toronto, E. h. Woolley, Toronto; W. J. Edmanson, Toronto. At the request of President Milburn Mr. J. McKee escorted the president elect to the chair. Mr. McKinnon, on assuming control of the association, expressed his appreciation of the honor conferred on him by his fellow-members and assured them of his best efforts in the interests of the association during his incumbency. The following standing committees were appointed: Infringement Committee S. G. Detchon, Tor onto; H. L. Pieler, Montreal; J. M. Brayley, Montreal. Legislation Committee-T. Milburn, Toronto; H. Miles, Montreal; D. Densmore, Toronto. Membership Committee-J. McKee, Toronto; G. T. Fulford, Brockville; E. D. Howe, Toronto. Votes of thanks were tendered to the retiring Pres. Milburn and Secy. Levee, the latter of whom was re-elected and granted an appropriation of $100 as substantial evidence of the esteem in which he is held. Dr. Pierce, as representing the American Proprietary Assoc., invited the members to attend the St. Louis meeting in October. Mr. Pieler moved, seconded by Mr. Milburn, that the Board of Control be authorized to name the committee, and that this association extend greetings to Dr. Pierce, Mr. Moliber (the President) and to the Proprietary Association of America. Carried. It was moved by Mr. Foster, seconded by Mr. H. L. Pieler, that the Board of Control get up a series of advertisements re substitution and if two thirds of the members approve of them, that the Secretary procure electros and forward same to the newspapers for insertion. Carried. The business being completed meeting adjourned. ANNUAL MEETING AND BANQUET OF THE QUEBEC PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION. Usually the Quebec meeting is attended by only a few of the faithful from outside the city, but this year the Quebec pharmacists desiring to surpass the efforts of their Montreal brethren last year had prepared such an enticing programme that a large number of Montrealers were present, thoroughly prepared to spend two enjoyable days in the Ancient Capital, nor were they disappointed. Quebec is renowned for its hospitality, and on this occasion the druggists amply sustained the reputation of the city, and the strangers left loud in their praise and enthusiastic over the royal good time they had had. The most important business at the meeting which took place in Laval University on the morning of the 54th, was the election of officers, at which the following were elected for two years: S. Lachance, Jos. Contant, A. Robert, R. McNichols, A. B. J. Moore, and W. H. Chapman, who with the following carried over from last year, will form the council : R. W. Williams, J. E. Tremble, A. Macmillan, J. E. Roy, C. J. Covernton, and A. E. Duberger. The question of the new Pharmacopoeia was discussed at great length, especially with regard to the time at which it should come into force. It was finally decided that after October 1st would be suitable, as giving pharmacists a chance to get rid |