HOMELY FACTS. BY F. STEWART, CLEVELAND, O. Not long ago as a bottle was placed upon the counter of a pharmacist to be refilled, its inner walls were observed to be richly decorated with the active principles of the compound. A witch-hazel doctor standing by declared the decorated walls to be the secret of the patient's recovery, but upon inquiry it was found that the patient was no better. Still they had decided to try another bottle, and the apothecary was not the one to object. The investigation was carried no farther, but if it had been the same old story of _incompatibles_ would have been retold. To the aqueous solutions containing oleoresinous tinctures or extracts (such as cannabis indica, guaiac, benzoin, lupulin, ginger, myrrh, cubeb, eucalyptus, sumbul, and many others) a sufficient quantity of carbonate or calcined magnesia should be added. A few grains (say three to twenty) to the prescribed dose will suffice for a good suspension, and will be found in most cases unobjectionable of course in an acid mixture. There are many conflicting reports of this class of medicines, owing to unscientific prescribing as well as unreliable preparations. The activity of this class of medicines demands nothing short of strong alcohol for their extraction. Yet many weak and worthless preparations may be found in the market. If the unscientific observers would look more to the quality of their goods, these conflicting reports would begin to subside. A physician once told an apothecary that he prescribed fluid extracts because he found them more reliable than the tinctures. This was not true, and could not be proven. Upon investigation it was found that his prescribed dose of fluid extract of digitalis was equivalent to fifty-five drops of the tincture, a dose larger than he intended to prescribe. With such science the witch-hazel doctor will ride a high horse, and come in on the home stretch with flying colors. No singer can sing well who sings too many songs, and no beginner will prescribe well who prescribes too many medicines. This song has been sung much but not half enough, for it is not borne in mind. Many fail with a remedy simply because they have failed to master it. Mastering the few is said to be the key to success, and the writer believes it, for he has seen it proven. An eminent physician from New York was once called in consultation to a western city. His prescription was mercury iodide, potassium iodide, and infus. gentian. He stated (and the other physician said, “I see”) that the only object of the potassium was to dissolve the mercury iodide. But potassium's great affinity for iodide accepted it, at once dropped the free mercury to the bottom, likely to be taken all at the last dose, equal to fifteen or twenty grains of blue pill. He had failed to master this remedy.