Arsenical wall-papers have now almost entirely gone out of fashion, and the confidence of the public has been so far restored that the paper manufacturer no longer hesitates to invest capital in green papers, for he has now at his command innocuous aniline dyes to replace the old Schweinfurt green. Nevertheless there is a general feeling of uneasiness always present, both in the minds of the public and of qualified men, respecting the insidious character of arsenical poisoning, and any reference to the occurrence of even small traces of arsenic in articles of common daily use always excites attention, not to say alarm.

A short time ago smokers were warned by an eminent West End physician, Dr. W. Murrell, against cigarettes enclosed in colored wrappers, which he had found in many cases to contain appreciable quantities of arsenic, with which the cigarettes themselves became contaminated. There are no statistics to show that the sale of cigarettes was affected by this warning, but there is no doubt that both makers and sellers of the articles impugned paid early attention to the matter, for the bright green wrappers of certain well known brands of cigarettes are no longer a conspicuous feature in the tobacconists' shops in London.

Only last month a curious case of alleged arsenical poisoning, possessing unusual toxicological interest, came on for hearing in the neighboring county court of Croydon. A lady sued a firm of drapers for damages in respect to the sale of five and a half yards of linette, which it was said was loaded with arsenic in such quantity that when the material was cut up for dressmaking purposes, the poison flew up in the form of an impalpable powder which, being inhaled, caused serious injury to health. As a matter of law the drapers would be responsible for the poisonous effects, although primâ facie it would appear that the actual manufacturers of the linette were open to a charge of criminal negligence, or even worse.

The medical man in attendance on the plaintiff deposed that he found her suffering from faintness, dry throat, irritability of the eyes, and pain, which he considered very probably the symptoms of arsenical poisoning; and he was confirmed in his opinion by analysis of the material, which showed it to contain arsenic. There was a slight conflict of expert evidence as to the actual amount of arsenic contained in the material, but it appears from all accounts to have been so infinitesimal that it would require a phenomenal stretch of imagination to suppose such a susceptibility to the action of arsenic

"Time" in an

could exist as would account for the plaintiff's symptoms. For the defense two well known forensic experts, Dr. Stevenson and Dr. Luff, said that the fabric contained approximately only of a grain of arsenic per square yard, being the proportion of one part in 1,300,000 by weight. The most delicate test for arsenic did not reveal its presence unless half a square yard was operated upon, and the whole amount contained in the article purchased would have been only one fifteenth of the official maximum dose. The judge, in giving judgment for the defendants, remarked that for all practical purposes the fabric was free from arsenic, but that it was a satisfaction to the public that the case had been so thoroughly investigated.

A crusade against "Arsenical Soap," which is at present being vigorously pressed by the inspectors appointed under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, occupies still greater public attention, although the first feeling of alarm has already subsided into one of amusement at the dilemma in which the soap manufacturers find themselves. Within the last year or so the advertisements of so-called "arsenical" soaps for beautifying the complexion have been gaining more and more prominence, especially in the columns of ladies' and society journals; no doubt the increase in advertising being in proportion to the growing profits of the sales. These advertisements have been regarded with a jealous eye in many quarters, although amongst well informed persons it was an open secret that these soaps contained an infinitesimal quantity of arsenic, if any at all.

The sudden activity in all parts of the country of the inspectors appointed under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act may therefore perhaps be explained by the promptings of the Pharmaceutical Society which, under the power given it by the Pharmacy Act, has so often done public service in controlling the sale of arsenical preparations and practically restricting them to the chemists and druggists, in whose hands they have been placed by the law of the country. At any rate, from whatever cause, the sellers of these "Arsenical Complexion Soaps" have been charged with not supplying an article of the nature, substance, and quality demanded; that is to say, that they have sold as an arsenical soap an article which contains no arsenic. Although it might seem fairer if the soap manufacturers and not their agents had been proceeded against, it does not require very great legal erudition to see the dilemma in which the sellers are placed. Either they must admit the offense, or if in their defense they prove the presence

of appreciable quantities of arsenic, unqualified sellers lay themselves out for prosecution under the Pharmacy Act.

It is not surprising that decisions have varied in different courts and before different magistrates, according to the weight of evidence adduced and other local considerations, but the total effect up to the present has undoubtedly been to seriously hamper the sales of these popular beautifiers. Several chemists and druggists have

themselves been caught in the trap; and whereas they might have sold soap medicated with arsenic in their privileged position with impunity and profit, they have been held up before the eyes of the public as fraudulent shopkeepers, convicted of selling as a medicated article at the price of one shilling ordinary soap not costing more than one-twentieth of the price. The moral is an obvious one for buyer and seller alike—not to deal in proprietary articles on the strength of advertisements.

Dry-goods and department stores all over the country are handling druggists' sundries, hence it is perfectly legitimate, as it is absolutely necessary, that a druggist should branch out into other fields, if he would maintain a satisfactory trade.

The sale of photographic chemicals by the drug trade will, to a great extent, make good the deficiency caused by the loss of sales in druggists' sundries.

Keep only the best. Don't let the goods get contaminated; a very little hyposulphite of soda is fatal to a developer. Put a neat card in your show window announcing the fact that you deal in photographic chemicals, and watch results. Be sure to let the young people know that they can get their chemicals of you and that you handle only the finest quality; that you accurately compound all solutions; that good results will be assured if instructions are adhered to. In this way you will get more trade than you anticipate, since for one camera sold three years ago, a hundred are being sold to day.

rapher, so when the amateur has troubles he applies to the manufacturer for solace-and he doesn't get it. Let us suppose the novice wishes to take a group picture of a lot of pretty girls dressed in white. He groups them

to his satisfaction about two feet in front of a dark background-either a vine-covered fence or a dark-painted house. Then follows the exposure of about one second or more. When he develops the plate-and, by the bye, the novice develops it until the whites begin to darken up so as to be sure that none of the detail is lost-the photographic image transferred to paper shows a halo about the white dresses, which it is hard to account for. This spoiling of his picture annoys and distresses the operator; he writes for enlightenment to the manufacturer of the plates, giving every detail of time, exposure, subject, background, and developer used; he prevails on the girls to promise another "pose," and with an expectant heart awaits the manufacturer's response.

The reply comes, and usually it is enough to drive the novice to drink. The wise oracle tells you that your sulphite of soda was probably too old-try a fresh batch; do not let the sun shine in the lens while making the exposure (the picture was made entirely in the shade); let him know when you find out the real cause of the trouble!

Now it is easy to avoid halation when you know how. Do not place your group too close to the dark background; keep. them at least five or six feet away. The light reflected from the white dresses on the dark background causes the halation; to correct it entirely, refrain from developing too far; overdevelopment causes indistinctness and lack of detail in overexposed parts and makes the plate a very slow printer. Merely develop the plate until you find, by holding it up to your ruby light, that the detail shows up well in the shadows, and that the high lights, such as white dresses and the sky, appear quite opaque.

The thing was started fifteen years ago.

Lullaby was a right smart town of about 250,000 inhabitants. It had two universities, one high school, a few colleges, a political machine, and eight hundred and thirteen drug stores.

One day Mr. Sam Bucus, Dr. Aleck Smart, and Mr. Jacob Eselmann happened to meet in Mr. Bucus's back room, when the latest number of the Pharmaceutical Snorter had just arrived containing an account of the rapid strides which were being made in pharmaceutical education in the United States. That enterprising and reliable journal gave a list of the colleges of pharmacy which are in actual existence, and many of which are also distinguished for other reasons.

Sam Bucus was a man of great public spirit and civic pride. His loyalty to his native town of Lullaby, to his learned profession, his family, and especially to Sam Bucus, was of the most active kind. Therefore, when he read that nearly every city of the size of Lullaby, and several little insignificant country places besides, had one or more colleges of pharmacy, and that some of these colleges had fine buildings and were mentioned in "reading notices" in the pharmaceutical journals every month, it was but natural that the ambition to establish such a college in Lullaby should stir him; in fact he was stirred so well that he did not settle down until he had communicated his new-born aspirations to both Smart and Eselmann.

Said he: "Why, there are enough druggists in this town to start the best college of pharmacy on this continent, and it is a shame we didn't do it long ago. We've got lots of pharmacists here, and what more do we want? We can easily get a charter. What do you say?"

Mr. Eselmann asked what a charter would cost, and when Sam Bucus had explained to him that under the general incorporation act of the State any three men could start a college after getting a certificate of incorporation as good as any charter for just twelve dollars and fifty cents, he could at once see that no further obstacle existed. He accordingly said: "You are quite right, Mr. Bucus; quite right. And if my fellow pharmacists of Lullaby require my services in any capacity I am willing to take the position of President of the college."

Mr. Jacob Eselmann's unselfish offer did not perceptibly increase the enthusiasm of Sam Bucus; but it was evident at any rate that Mr. Eselmann's cordial co-operation could be counted upon.

To Dr. Aleck Smart, who had an office over Mr.

Bucus's store, Sam said: "Colleges of pharmacy are, of course, no good unless they are controlled by the druggists, and nobody but druggists ought to have anything to do with them. The members must be pharmacists, and doctors aren't eligible. For that reason it wouldn't do for you to take any conspicuous part in starting the thing. But we are going to want a Professor of Materia Medica, and I don't know any reason why you shouldn't get that position. It wouldn't do any harm for you to kind o' work it up on the quiet by just calling attention to the necessity of it when you happen to be in a drug store."

Dr. Smart caught on. Before another week had passed, the doctor had happened three times into each of a dozen of the leading drug stores of Lullaby. It was the common report about the whole town that a college of pharmacy was about to be organized, and Dr. Smart had smoked three dozen cigars at the expense of the pharmaceutical profession.

Mr. Bucus and Mr. Eselmann had not been idle. Bucus had enlisted the active cooperation of Mr. William Smythe Jones, who was popularly regarded as the foremost man in the profession, and Mr. Eselmann had secured the valuable aid of Mr. Benjamin Cutter, the wealthiest druggist in the place, who was known to be a shrewd and most successful practical business man.

Mr. William Smythe Jones had a fine drug store on the corner where the choicest aristocratic residence avenue crossed the principal business street. He had been in business for more than a generation and enjoyed the profound respect of all who knew him. No other druggist in Lullaby had half so great a reputation for learning and skill in his art. His whole appearance and his manner and conversation were impressive, benevolent and wise. Indeed, his likeness to the portraits of Benjamin Franklin had been often commented upon, and he was a man of so few words that nobody knew him to have ever said anything that was not absolutely and palpably true. It would be no exaggeration to say that his reputation for learning, skill, wisdom, and professional integrity was based almost exclusively upon the characteristics I have just recited. There was not a man in all Lullaby that had one word to say against Mr. William Smythe Jones.

A called meeting of certain selected leading druggists of Lullaby was held. The call was signed by William Smythe Jones, Sam Bucus, Jacob Eselmann, Benjamin Cutter, and one Smith, whose given name has now escaped my memory.

The meeting was duly held, and upon motion made by Mr. Cutter, seconded by Mr. Eselmann, put by Mr. Bucus, and unanimously adopted by the thirteen who were present except Mr. William Smythe Jones, whose lips were sealed, the last-named gentleman took the chair.

But, although he came forward and literally did take the chair, he did not sit down in it until after he had given utterance to the following appropriate remarks:

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" [There were no ladies present, to be sure, but the originality of the speaker's introductory would afford ample reason for excusing its deviation from accuracy even if we should ignore the possible assumption that the venerable Mr. William Smythe Jones might be near-sighted.] "Ladies and Gentlemen!" said he, "you have seen fit to bestow upon me an honor which, I assure you, is entirely unsolicited. It is an honor which I esteem more highly than -more highly-more than I can express. You stand here as the representative men of the pharmaceutical profession in Lullaby, the leading educational centre of the proud State of Aipotu; and you have chosen me, the humblest among you, to preside over this important meeting. As you are already aware, the call for this meeting was issued for the purpose of starting a college of pharmacy in our great city. The hour has come when we must act if we do not want to be left behind in the march of science. It is time to act. I want to say that in presiding over your important deliberations I shall ever try to discharge my duties with the utmost impartiality."

And then he sat down.

Mr. Sam Bucus was elected Secretary.

For a minute there was silence among the representative men of the pharmaceutical profession of Lullaby. Then one of the thirteen arose and addressed the chair. He was one of the several graduates in pharmacy who had been invited and had responded by their presence.

He said: "Mr. Chairman: It seems to me that if our 'hour has come' we ought to know it; but I confess that I do not know anything about the business before this meeting except what was stated in the invitation I received to take part in it. That call said that 'it is proposed' to organize a college of pharmacy in Lullaby, and that this meeting is to be held for the purpose of 'taking action.' But nothing was said to indicate who has made the proposition to organize such a college, or how it is to be done, or why, or where the men and the means are to come from. I may be the only one present who is ignorant of the plans proposed, but if I can get a second to my motion I shall move that these plans be fully stated as far as they may have been perfected, in order that we may be able to act intelligently."

Bucus looked at Jones, and Jones looked at Bucus. Finally Sam Bucus informed the inquirer and mover, whose name was Albert E. Kicker, and whose motion

had been duly seconded by Mr. Harkwell Métou, that "some of us" had thought that there ought to be a college of pharmacy in Lullaby, that a call had been issued to all who were supposed to be in favor of organizing one, and that it was for this meeting to decide how it should be done and to do it. He intimated further that those who were not in sympathy with the movement had the right to stay out of it.

But Mr. Kicker insisted on his motion and it was put and carried. put and carried. As, however, nobody seemed to know anything about any "plans," the proceedings, paradoxical as it may seem, continued at a standstill notwithstanding the adoption of Mr. Kicker's motion.

It was at this critical juncture that Mr. Cutter came to the rescue of a noble cause. The Cutter family has long been noted for the promptness with which its members vie with each other in meeting any emergency.

Mr. Benjamin Cutter offered the following resolu- . tion, which was adopted by a vote of ten to two, Kicker and Métou voting in the negative, and the Chairman not voting:

"Resolved, that we, the pharmacists of Lullaby, desirous to advance the standard of pharmaceutical education in our midst, organize a college to be known as the Lullaby College of Pharmacy."

A committee was then appointed to draft and report a constitution, a set of bye-laws, and a code of ethics, and a recess of ten minutes was taken to enable that committee to discharge its duties without undue haste. It was not necessary, however, to consume all the time allowed the committee, for Mr. Eselmann had, fortunately, before he left his store to attend the meeting, slipped into his pocket a pamphlet containing the constitution, bye-laws and code of ethics of one of the oldest and most widely known colleges of pharmacy in the country, so that it was self-evident to every one present, except Kicker and Métou, that the best thing possible was to adopt the contents of that pamphlet as the report of the Committee on the Code of the newly created institution of learning.

Mr. Cutter stated that he must be back at his place of business as soon as possible and had no doubt that his colleagues were similarly situated, and he therefore moved that the reading of the report of the committee be dispensed with and that said report be adopted, which was done.

Mr. Bucus then moved that the College proceed with the election of its officers for the first year. Mr. William Smythe Jones was elected President, Mr. Jacob Eselmann First Vice-President, Mr. Bucus Secretary, Mr. Cutter Treasurer, and others present were elected to the remaining six offices of Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Vice-Presidents. There were, unfortunately, no offices left for Mr. Kicker and Mr. Métou, and in fact those gentlemen did not wish even to become members.

Upon the recommendation of Mr. Smith, Messrs. Blackstone and Kent were appointed Counselors-at-law of the new institution, for it was deemed essential that the Lullaby College of Pharmacy should be second to none in the completeness of its organization.

Mr. Eselmann thereupon called attention to the fact that some colleges of pharmacy also have an Actuary, and he urged that the Lullaby College, therefore, ought to have one too; but as every member already had an office, and nobody seemed to know what the title "Actuary" meant or what the duties of his office were, Mr. Eselmann's motion was laid on the table.

Delegates to the American Pharmaceutical Association and to the Aipotu State Pharmaceutical Association were next appointed.

But when the College proceeded to the appointment of its nine standing committees some little difficulty was experienced on account of the somewhat limited membership, but the nine committees were finally appointed, each consisting of five members, and it was ordered that the Committee on Membership issue a circular to be sent to all the druggists of Lullaby inviting them to send in their applications for membership accompanied by five dollars.

In due time the College had fifty-seven active members and over two hundred dollars in the treasury. The officers constituted a Board of Trustees to have charge of the possessions and guard the interests of the institution, and the most important objects for which the College had been established were thus attained.

For many years the Lullaby College of Pharmacy struggled on nobly. It sent its delegates regularly to all pharmaceutical meetings, and received the Proceedings of these meetings free of charge.

In due time a course of lectures on materia medica was offered by Dr. Aleck Smart, free to the members of the College and their clerks. These lectures were attended by a class of seven and were delivered in the Doctor's office. But in its tenth year the College hired a hall with two adjoining rooms, elected a Faculty, and announced that regular courses were given and the degree of Graduate in Pharmacy conferred. Mr. Don Key was the Professor of Pharmacy, Dr. Aleck Smart Professor of Materia Medica, and a Mr. I. O. Dean, who had had something to do with chemical work of some kind for many years, was made Professor of Chemistry.

An unequaled cabinet of specimens and apparatus

had been donated to the College by liberal and publicspirited wholesale druggists and manufacturers, and a splendid library of nineteen pharmaceutical and other books had been obtained in a similar way.

A prospectus was issued, and thus another college of pharmacy was launched.

The officers and trustees of the Lullaby College of Pharmacy feel proud of their achievement, and point with especial pride to their strict rules and requirements, which place the standard of that institution at the very top, and certainly ahead of that of any rival.

As an example of the great care exercised by the College in maintaining its exalted standard, it may be mentioned that a student finishing his courses of study at nineteen is not permitted to take the final examinations until two years later, when he has attained the age required for graduation. The great value of this rule was explained to me by President Jones, but I am obliged to confess that I did not understand what object was to be accomplished or what evil was to be prevented by it, although I listened most attentively.

The same gentlemen who were elected officers at the memorable meeting attended by Messrs. Kicker and Métou are still fiving and continue to be the active and controlling spirits. Nearly all of them have been reelected year after year, and their resolute conservatism will surely prevent any dangerous innovations or serious departure from the precepts and practices established by the fathers. The Lullaby College of Pharmacy will be perfectly safe so long as these staunch and experienced men remain at the helm.

The membership of the College, after fifteen years of glorious activity in the field of higher education, has increased to fifty-eight. It is perfectly natural that most of these fifty-eight members are comparatively new, but, as long as the thirteen original charter members remain faithful, all will be well. The annual meetings are invariably graced by the attendance of those thirteen, and for three years past the average number present at these meetings has exceeded fourteen and a half.

At some future time the Lullaby College of Pharmacy hopes to have one or more laboratories, and to introduce several new studies and practical courses of lectures on the arts of drawing trade and teeth, and various other useful and profitable adjuncts to the profession of pharmacy.

DAN VAN DEN.