not make as much as they would if they could buy as usual.

The fact that the cutter cannot get the goods, and that thus the price is protected, cuts no, figure whatever with the objectors. It is selfishness, pure, simple and unadulterated, which dictates the action of the few retailers who oppose the effort to sustain prices. Not only that, but we think it a very shortsighted policy. Where is the profit in buying goods at a discount of 5 per cent., if they have to be sold at 20 to 30 per cent. less than the regular price? We cannot see it, but still there are some who believe such a condition of things would be beneficial, but they will hardly succeed in convincing the majority that this view is the correct one.

HAVE YOU RESPONDED TO CIRCULAR No. 4?

This circular has been in the hands of Ontario druggists for over a month and still there are those among them who have neglected to respond to it, when all that is required is a simple "yes" or “no,” and a signature. Final action in all probability will be taken at the February meeting of the council on matters being dealt with by this committee, and what that action will be is for the druggists themselves to say. In order that the subject may be understood Mr. Hargreaves has supplemented the circular by a letter which will be found elsewhere in the JOURNAL. Turn to that letter and read it carefully. Nothing need be added by us further than another admonition to return the post Card which accompanied the circular with your answer and signature attached as a guide to the committee in arriving at a decision.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RETAIL DRUGGISTS.

Complete detailed reports which come to us of the St. Louis meeting of American retail druggists are of the most encouraging nature. It is but natural that those of us who were actively engaged in our own Ontario Society of Retail Druggists should watch with interest the development of a similar movement in the neighboring country. Some conditions of the American organization are indicative of a measure of success which our organization never attained. The essential feature of the N. A. R. D. is that it was an association of delegates, and not a mass meeting such as that to which the O. S. R. D. owed its existence. This condition secured a de

liberate and business-like procedure. The assembly took time and gave thought to the difficulties likely to be met with and the best means for overcoming the same. Undue haste was characteristic of of the launching of our society and altogether too

much was expected of it in an unreasonably short space of time.

It is interesting to note that the plan suggested by the Ontario Society for attaining the object desired is identical with that which received the endorsation of the American association.

First: : a thorough and cordial agreement between retailer and jobber, with a distinct understanding that through the latter and him alone shall the former secure his supplies.

Second the abolition of price scaling to fortunate buyers, a schedule of uniform prices to be maintained to the retailer irrespective of quantities pur

French pharmacists have appointed the officers and drawn up the programme of the Congress which it is intended will be held in Paris during the Exposition. The following are the officers: President, M. Planchon; Vice-presidents, M. Petit, of Paris, and Prof. Ed. Dupuy, of Toulouse; general secretary, M. Bourquelor; assistant secretaries, Mm. Viand and Desvignes; treasurer, M. Labélonye; assistant treasurer, M. Leroy.

The committee of organization will be composed of the professors of the Paris School of Pharmacy, delgates named by the provincial schools, delegates of the naval and military pharmacists, the chief dispensers of the hospitals of Paris, and of the department of the Seine, the pharmacist members of the Codex Commission, the officers of the Société de Pharmacie, the officers of the Association Générale of the Société de Prévoyance.

The Congress will be divided into the following sections: Ist, Professional interests; 2nd, galenical pharmacy; 3rd, chemical pharmacy; 4th, Materia Medica (pharmacognosy.)

LYMAN BROS. & CO.

After perusing this company's advertisement on page 247 and securing the information contained in it, turn to the outside cover of the Journal for their Christmas and New Year greeting to their many friends and patrons.

FAIR PROMISES.

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We observe one common note running through the varied reports of the St Louis meeting, contained in the different drug journals. That note was the desire, yea, anxiety expressed by the manufacturers to placate the retailer. The Three branches in harmony," "Similarity of Interests," "Injury to one, injury to all" gush was worked over time. There is a peculiarly familiar sound to these glib phrases, which reminds us not of departed friends, but shattered hopes and unrealized anticipations. We have no desire to rank as pessimists, but most sincerely trust that these expressions will mean more to our American confrères than similar gush did to ourselves when we were endeavoring to enlist the aid of these same manufacturers. We also sincerely hope that the future course of events may not be such as to create in the minds of all honest men a higher admiration for the five prominent proprietors who absented themselves from the love-feast and handshaking rather than attend and indulge in fair promises which in their hearts they had no intention of keeping. Our desire is not to damp the ardor of the newly formed association, nor to discourage its enthusiastic workers, but to sound a warning note against being deceived and misled by honeyed words and alluring promises of aid that is liable never to be rendered. There is nothing so productive of skepticism as an experience of unfulfilled fair promises. We say then plainly that the experience of the Ontario Society of Retail Druggists teaches with an emphasis this one lesson, and we offer to our sister organization the fruit of our experience without money and without price. Expect nothing from the proprietor except what you can wring from him by a force which he is clearly unable to withstand. The only line of reasoning to which he is amenable is that conducted by the instrumentality of a club.

A DISTINGUISHED PHARMACIST.

Mr. W. E. Atkinson, member of the O. S. A. and fellow C. R. A., has lately arrived home from Europe, where he has spent the last two years cultivating his art in England, Holland and France. Mr. Atkinson is among the best known of Canadian artists. his pictures having been the recipients of most flattering notices by art critics and been accorded prominence in the Society's exhibition. He is at present arranging an exhibit of his works at the establishment of Messrs Matthews Bros. on Yonge St., where they will remain during December. A visit to the rooms will repay admirers of first class paintings.

Mr. Atkinson is a son of Mr. W. T. Atkinson, of Oshawa, one of the fathers of Canadian pharmacy, and is himself a graduate of the O. C. P. His studio is in the Equity Chambers on corner of Adelaide and Victoria Sts., where he will be pleased to see any old friends.

Editorial Notes.

Reed & Carnrick, manufacturers of maltine and other well known preparations, are putting up an immense laboratory building in Jersey City, which will be one of the largest and best equipped in the United States.

The "Quickcure Chemical Co." has been incorporated in New Jersey with a capital of $1,000,000, to manufacture and sell "Quickcure" and other compounds. The incorporators are Henry levers of Quebec, P. Q., F. N. Whitney of Elizabeth, N. J.; Louis E. Carr, Jr., E. B. Burpee, and L. C. Ilfeld, of New York.

A new chemical club is to be organized in New York, and chemists throughout Canada and the United States have been asked to guarantee the necessary expenses or to become members, resident or non-resident. So far forty two of the necessary number of guarantors have been secured. The secretary is Marston Bogert, Columbia University, New York.

The November issue of the American Journal of Pharmacy contains an article by Prof. Remington entitled "Fluid Acetracts," which is devoted to a consideration of the use of acetic acid as a solvent in pharmacal operations, with which he has been experimenting for several years. It is already shown that acetic acid possesses many advantages over alcohol. First and perhaps most important is the vast difference in price, and the difference is about twice as great in Canada as in the United States, seeing that the retailer here has to pay about $5 a gallon for his alcohol while his American confrère gets it for about $2.50 per wine gallon. The solvent power of acetic acid on plant constituents is about equal to that of alcohol, so that acetic extracts in almost all cases can be made as strong as those prepared with an alcoholic menstruum.

Dr. Squibb has used acetic acid in the preparation of fluid extracts of spices with satisfaction, and the writer has also successfully used it in similar cases. No good reason exists why the acid should not be used in cases where the odor or taste would not be objectionable, as with most fluid extracts; for tinctures which are administered in large doses the taste might be objected to, although a menstruum of acetic acid, glycerine and water has been in constant use in the London Temperance Hospital founded by the late Dr. B. W. Richardson.

A bill has been passed by the Legislative Council of Victoria making the B. P., 1898, the official standard for that colony.

William Smith has brought suit against the Medical Age of Detroit, and W. Warren, the publisher, because that journal called him a "quack." We hope he'll get it. A few more publishers like W. Warren would not hurt the medical profession.

There will be lively times shortly over the Belladonna Plaster "Bulletin" recently issued by the government. There are some remarkable statements and figures in it, and Messrs. Johnson & Johnson do not propose to let them go unchallenged. Perhaps in our next issue we will have some eye-openers.

The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy now boasts of a gymnasium, and is the only College of Pharmacy having such an adjunct. That is right; a little more athletics will make better men of our budding pharmacists. The average druggist does not get nearly enough exercise to keep him in good physical condition, which is the foundation of good mental condition. "Mens sana in corpore sano" holds good for druggists as for all others.

The committee of the scientific sections of the A. Ph. A. has forwarded circular letters to the druggists of the United States and Canada, offering assistance in the solution of questions of practical interest. Frequently questions arise concerning prescriptions, troublesome or unsatisfactory formulæ, complicated processes, etc, which for lack of time or other reasons cannot be resolved by the busy pharmacist, and it is to help in the matter that the committee has offered its aid, by giving the questions to those who have the time and appliances necessary for the work, such as the professors and students of the colleges of pharmacy. All questions should be sent to Wilbur L. Scoville, Mass. College of Pharmacy, Boston.

According to law promulgated recently, it is now forbidden to use in the German Empire any artificial sweetening agents such as saccharine, dulcin, etc., in the manufacture of beer, wine, liqueurs, fruit juices, conserves, and the sale of such articles containing saccharine, etc., is likewise forbidden. The promulgation of this decree does not necessarily imply that these goods are injurious, but rather that the beet-root sugar industry is of such importance that it must be protected from the competition of the laboratory. It is a piece of practical politics to please the Agrarian members of the German Parliament, who have already secured decrees forbidding the importation of American hog products and fruits. With American ham and bacon tabooed the German hog raisers ought to get wealthy, while his beet growing brother will benefit by the latest ruling.

The Pharmacy Board of New Zealand has decided that the new Pharmacopœia shall come into force on Jan. 1st, 1899, thus giving pharmacists and physicians sufficient time to become acquainted with all the changes, etc. The Victorian Assembly has adopted a bill declaring the B. P. of 1898, as a uniform guide and standard in the preparation of medicines in the colony of Victoria.

On motion of Ald. Ames, the Charter Committee of Montreal has adopted an amendment to the city charter, by which department stores shall pay an annual tax of $250 for each department, the total not to exceed $5,000, two members of the committee, Ald. McBride and Laporte, voting against it. We hope that the amendment will be adopted by the Council and the Legislature. Perhaps it would be as well for the Montreal Chemists' Association, and organizations representing other lines, to hold meetings to endorse the action of the Charter Committee.

The Chemical Society of England held the annual banquet recently, at which six ex-Presidents who had also been members of the society for over 50 years were present. We doubt if any other existing society can present a similar spectacle, although it is generally supposed that the practice of chemistry has a most injurious effect on the health. The ex-presidents present were Sir J. H. Gilbert, the great agricultural chemist; Sir Edward Frankland, the authority on sewage and water supply; W. Odling, one of the founders of the new chemistry; Sir F. A. Abel, of Woolwich, the inventor of cordite, and authority on explosives; A. W. Williamson, of etherification theory fame, and J. H. Gladstone, the physicochemist.

Quite a formidable array of eminent chemists, and all still able to take part in scientific work.

That accidents will happen, even when the greatest care is taken, is well known, and occasionally even experienced operators, while working with chemicals, have received serious injuries, as shown by an accident which occurred at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute Prof. Fay, while demonstrating

to a class the properties of liquid air, undertook to show the effect of this agent on amorphous phosphorus. The first action seemed to be a change of color; a little of the mixture was poured on the laboratory table, and as soon as the air had evaporated an explosion took place, and some of the powdered phosphorus was thrown into the face of the lecturer, and the table was set on fire. Prof. Fay was seriously injured, and for some time it was feared that his eyes were permanently injured, but the physicians now hope to save his sight although he will be badly disfigured.