The question as to whether Barbados or Socotrine aloes should be used when 'aloes' only occurs in a prescription is one which formerly presented difficulty, but the British Pharmacopoeia, 1914, allows either of these or Zanzibar aloes to be used, so that the prescriber must specify one of these if he has a preference, in which case the dispenser must use what is prescribed. It is desirable, otherwise, to give the aloes that has been used for any physician's prescriptions.

Emp. belladonnae, B.P. 1914, is only half the strength of the 1898 plaster.

Emp. cantharidis, B.P. 1898, is no longer official, and has been replaced by a cantharidin plaster, of equal strength but totally different appearance.

Extracts, green. - The old preparations made from the fresh juices of, e.g., belladonna and henbane are replaced in the British Pharmacopoeia, 1914, by alcoholic extracts made from the dried leaves.

Ferri cit. is sometimes written for ferri ammon. cit, but if a mineral acid be in the prescription the simple citrate of iron makes a better mixture.

Hydrarg. bisulph. may mean vermilion (hydrargyri bisulphu-retum) or mercuric bisulphate. In ointments certainly the former.

Hyd. chlor. may mean calomel, corrosive sublimate, or chloral hydrate, and mistakes have happened in consequence of this wholly unnecessary abbreviation. But there is little excuse for a mistake if the dispenser thinks of what he is about. Corrosive sublimate is never given with a purgative or as a sleeping-draught, and the whole danger really lies in corrosive sublimate. But there may be almost equal danger when the medicine is for external use. For example, the dispenser who got the following prescription gave ammoniated mercury for 'hyd. chlor.' :

It is reasonable to suppose that the prescriber means this to be a camphor-chloral ointment, but calomel and camphor (an excellent combination for piles and pruritus ani) were intended.

Inject, cocainae, hypoderm. and inj. morph. hypoderm. of the British Pharmacopoeia were reduced in 1914 to half the strength of the 1898 injections.

Liq. cinchonce. - Should Battley's preparation or the phar-macopceial liquid extract be supplied for this? The reply is that since the introduction of formulae for liquid extracts into the Pharmacopoeia 'liquor' and ' extract, liq.' are regarded as synonymous, and when liq. cinchonae is prescribed without a maker being specified, the official preparation should be used.

Liq. ergotae stands for extract, ergotae liquidum. It may be that a prescriber means some special preparation, but if the fact is not known to the dispenser the official liquid extract is the proper thing to use.

Liq. morphinae is very often written in prescriptions, and the dispenser will follow the majority in giving liquor morphinae hydrochlor. There are exceptions, however, e.g:

Liq. plumb, subacet., ,, morphinae......aa p. ae.

In this case use liq. morph. acet., as with liq. morph. hydrochlor. there would be precipitation of lead chloride. Some physicians use only the acetate of morphine, but such prescribers are generally very particular in specifying what they want.

Liq. plumbi as an ingredient in a lotion is most probably the strong solution, but if per se the dilute liquor should be used.

Liq. strych. means liq. strychninae hydrochloridi, B.P. 1914.

Liq. taraxaci. - The difficulty regarding the use of the word 'liquor' assumes a new phase when we turn to liquor taraxaci. 'What should be dispensed for this, the succus or the liquid extract?' If the prescription was written before the publication of the 1885 Pharmacopoeia, the succus should be dispensed; but if after, the liquid extract.

Pil. phosphori, B.P. 1914, is only half the strength of the 1898 pill, and is made differently.

'QuininaJ strictly speaking, means the alkaloid, but in most cases the sulphate is meant.

Tinct. aconiti, B.P. 1914, is twice the strength of the 1898 tincture.

Tinct. belladonnae, B.P. 1914, is a third weaker than the 1898 preparation.

Tinct. card, is occasionally prescribed, and the dispenser must use his discretion whether a simple tincture or the B.P. compound tincture is required. In such a case, if the prescription has been previously dispensed, it is best to explain the doubt to the customer, showing him that, though the appearance may differ, the medicinal importance of the difference is but trifling. So also in such cases as tinct. gentianae, tinct. guaiaci, etc. Generally speaking, it is correct to assume that the prescriber is quite familiar with the British Pharmacopoeia, and the dispenser is at all events safe in assuming that he is, and using official medicines.

Tinct. colchici, B.P. 1914, is half the strength of the 1898 tincture, and tinct. digitalis is a fifth weaker.

Tinct. iodi, B.P. 1898, is tinct. iodi mitis, B.P. 1914.

Tinct. nucis vom., B.P. 1914, is half the strength of the 1898 preparation.

Tinct. opii was made a third stronger by the B.P. 1914, and contains 1 per cent. of morphine.

Tinct. strophanthi, B.P. 1914, is four times the strength of the 1898 tincture!

Ung. hydrarg. subchlor., B.P. 1914, is double the strength of the 1898 ointment.