Whatever views may be held as to the value of homoeopathic treatment or the truth of the dictum si?nilia similibus curantur, no one can dispute that homoeopathic pharmacy is elegant. Indeed, the globules and pilules of Hahnemann in their dainty little tubes carefully excluded from the deleterious light-rays by neat outer cartons, were the forerunners of the tabloids and parvules, the granules and pellets, etc, with which we are so familiar to-day. And, if for this reason alone, the memory of the old German physician should be held in respect by modern pharmacists as the founder of elegant pharmacy, even if they deny his claims to be the first exponent of scientific therapeutics.

Until a few years ago homoeopathic prescriptions were dispensed almost exclusively by homoeopathic chemists, and if a stray one found its way to an ordinary chemist's, it was usually sent on to the nearest homoeopathic chemist to be dispensed; the ordinary man either not caring to attempt to decipher the eccentric recipe or regarding it with contempt, Nowadays, doubtless due to increased competition, this procedure is seldom followed, many chemists not only dispensing homoeopathic prescriptions - sometimes more and sometimes less correctly-but also advertising a special ' homoeopathic department.'

Homoeopathic prescriptions present few difficulties to a trained pharmacist, but they call for scrupulous delicacy and exactitude in dispensing, which are absolutely essential, and without which the dispenser is not rendering justice either to the patient or to his physician. The prescriptions may be for tinctures, powders or triturations, pilules, globules, compressed tablets, and tablet-triturates.

Tinctures

Prescriptions for tinctures usually consist of a single tincture, thus:

Tinct. aconiti 3x......3ij.

Sig.: Gtt. ij. n. et m. or of two tinctures to be taken in alternation, thus:

Sig.: Gtt. iij. 2dis hor. alt. surnend.

If no quantity of water is specified, the drops should be directed to be taken in half a wineglassful. The bottles used should be of green or amber glass, and provided with a good lip or spout for dropping. Good corks are essential to dispensing of every kind, but for homoeopathic work they are a sine qua non.

The tinctures may be prescribed with the addition of water as mixtures, thus:

M. Ft. mistura, cujus capiat cochlearia duo magna tertiis horis.

In this instance twelve drops of the sixth dilution are prescribed and water to 6 ounces.

Powders are much in favour with homoeopathic doctors, and generally consist of so many grains of an ordinary sugar-of-milk trituration, thus:

Trit. mercurii sol. 3x . . . gr. iij.

Mitte tales chart, xij. Direct a powder to be taken dry on the tongue every four hours.

Or they may consist of a tincture dropped on to sugar of milk, dried, and weighed out, thus:

Ft. pulv. Direct this powder to be dissolved in six tablespoonfuls of water, and a tablespoonful to be taken every morning and evening.

In this case the 6 minims of the tincture is to be dropped on 18 grains of sacch. lactis, carefully incorporated by means of a bone spatula, allowed to dry, and then divided into 3-grain powders.

All homoeopathic powders are wrapped in tinfoil in addition to the ordinary powder-paper.

Sometimes the powders are ordered to be prepared from globules or pilules. In this case the globules or pilules are simply crushed and triturated with the sacch. lactis:

Ft. pulv. Mitte tales xij. Direct a powder to be taken every four hours.

Frequently the triturations are ordered in bulk, and if no quantity is specified a 3ij. bottle should be dispensed:

Hepat. sulphuris 3x.....3ij.

Sig.: Gr. v. nocte maneque sumend.

As a rule homoeopathic physicians prescribe bulk powders in doses of 3 or 5 grains, and homoeopathic chemists keep trituration-scoops of these sizes in stock. In the absence of a scoop, however, it is usual to direct as much as covers a threepenny-piece as the equivalent of 3 grains, and a sixpenny-piece for 5 grains. This method of measuring is signified by a 3 or a 6 enclosed in a triangle, thus:

= as much as covers a threepenny-piece.

= „ „ sixpenny-piece.

Separate mortars should be kept for homoeopathic work, and all operations should be conducted remote from strong-smelling substances.

Pilules and Globules present but little difficulty. The method of medication will be found in the Pharmacopoeia.

Globules are used much less in these days than formerly, although it was with globules that Hahnemann founded the system.

Compressed Tablets are not so popular with homoeopaths as the trituration-tablets because of the manipulation required, which is calculated (in homoeopathic opinion) to interfere with the purity of the medicine. Any trituration can be made into tablets, and any of the small machines advertised are suitable for the purpose.

Merc, biniodid. 3x . . . . . gr. v.

Ft. tab. Mitte tales xxxvj.

The trituration is slightly damped with weak gum-water and passed through a moderately fine sieve, thus obtaining it in the form of minute granules. These are carefully dried, and then lightly sprayed with liquid paraffin- to prevent the powder from sticking to the moulds - and then compressed in the usual manner.

Trituration-tablets. - The moulds for this purpose are made for 50 and 100 tablets respectively, and for homoeopathic work should preferably be of ivory or, failing that, of celluloid. Metallic moulds are unsuitable. The trituration is previously rubbed up with a little dry pulv. gum. acaciae, then damped with spirit and water to the consistency of stiff putty, pressed with a bone spatula into the moulds, and set aside to dry.

Applications

Ft. lotio.

Sig. : For external application.

Direct a piece of lint in three folds to be soaked in the lotion, then applied to the bruise, and covered with oiled silk.

Ft. linimentum.

Label:For external application.

Direct to be gently rubbed into the joint every four hours.

All homoeopathic medicines should be dispensed in green or amber bottles, and these enclosed in card cases. The homoeopathic department should be kept quite free of strong-smelling substances, and all utensils employed should be kept specially apart from the ordinary dispensing. Homoeopaths have sharp noses, and object strongly to odours foreign to the medicine, so that a faint suggestion of lavender or turpentine on cork or bottle may lose you a good customer.