ADULTERATED PHYSIC.

Dunstan Times, Issue 756, 13 October 1876, Page 4

ADULTERATED PHYSIC.

Tho Pall Mall Gazette says :—Some very disagreeable revelations as to the manner in which - physicians' prescriptions are made up are contained in a report by Mr Allen, the borough analyst at SliefTield, giving the result of an experiment lately tried with the view of testing tile accuracy and honesty of druggists Various prescriptions, each including a full dn-e of some costly remedy capable of ready and accurate estimation in a mixture were presented to certain druggists. A series of three samples in which 120 ■grains of iodide of potassium were prescribed were found on analysis to contain IJ2. 120, and 70 grains respectively. Of three samples, which should have contained 16 grains of sulphate -of quinine, one contained only 9J grains. Another sample, which should have contained 40 grains of sulphate ■of quinine, had but thirty grains. Of 12 samples of glycerine only five were pure and of tho standard strength. Thiee samples of citric acid wore found to contain a minute trace of lead. In short, the result of the experiment was such as to give just ground for apprel&easion that druggists are iwt xaorj

troubled with consciences than grocers, and that the effect of the poisons retailed by 'the latter is ■often enhanced, instead of removed, by 1 the adulterated antidotes dispensed by the former. The Health committee : at Sheffield have, it is stated, decided' hot to take any proceedings against the druggists whose medicines were found wanting. This is satisfactory to the offenders, but less so to tl>e public. In the meantime it is only fair on medical men, who are often accused of killing their patients, to admit that this accusation is hardly just if their prescriptions are liable to revision by chemists and druggists.

The richest woman in America is Miss Kitty Wolfe. Her income is 1000 dollars a day. Would you work very hard to keep that kind of Wolfe from your door ? Two loafers in a theatre.— “ Nice watch that of yours,” “ Yes ; don’t you like the chain?” “Rather. How much?” “Don’t know. Tho jeweller was asleep.”

A country girl coming from the field, told by her poetic cousin that she looked as fresh as a daisy kissed by dew, said, “Well, it wasn't any fellow by that name, hut it v as Steve Jones that kissed me. 1 told him that every one in town would find it out." Artful urchin.—“Do you want to kill the child ?” exclaimed a gentleman as he saw a boy tip the baby out of its carriage, “ No, not quite,” replied the boy : ‘ but if I can get him to hall loud enough, mother will take care of him while I go and play.”