Whether the practice is just or not, the fact remains that the druggist bases his charges, to a considerable extent, on the size of the preparation dispensed. The best interests of the patient should be the paramount consideration in the prescriber's mind; he can, therefore, frequently concentrate the preparations and allow the patient to add the water,-often known in the drug-store as"profit."As an example: A physician wishing to have a poor patient use a wet bichloride dressing and, as is usually the case, not thinking it advisable to prescribe tablets, ordered a pint of a 1: 5000 solution. He found that the druggist charged $1.50. The next order was for a two-ounce solution 1: 500, with directions to use one teaspoonful to nine teaspoonfuls of water; the price charged was 25 cents.

The same conditions obtain in such cases as in prescribing potassium iodide in syphilis, or in ordering solutions of potassium permanganate for douches, irrigations, etc.

To illustrate another point: A concentrated solution of corrosive mercuric chloride was ordered with directions"Use one teaspoonful to two tablespoonfuls of water to wet bandage."A dermatitis was produced, as a large teaspoon and a small tablespoon were used and a dilution of little more than 1: 2000 resulted; so it should be remembered that, when possible, the patient should be instructed to use the same measure for the drug and the diluent.