From Mr R. H. Holdsworth, MRPharmS
SIR,-I was distressed to read the details of the "peppermint water" case. At the same time there was a nostalgic memory of my apprentice days when preparation of peppermint water was almost a daily routine.
Of course, in those days we used the old National Health Insurance Drug Tariff formula for aq menth pip:
Peppermint oil 30m
Purified talc 240gr
Water to 80 fl oz
Looking at my old copy of pharmaceutical formulas the simple procedure was: Add the peppermint oil and the purified talc to the water in a capacious bottle. Shake well and repeat the shaking several times during a period of about 15 minutes. Filter, returning any portions of the filtrate which are not clear.
I not only feel sorrow for the parents in this tragic case but also sympathy for the two young people involved. I am ignorant of what extemporaneous dispensing is now taught. I can only say that there must be some merit in the old formulae used in my day, albeit a chemist and druggist old-timer.
R. H. Holdsworth
Stretford, Manchester